Dawn Obeidallah Davis and I spend a morning driving around pitching our books to local libraries. It was a fun morning though we didn’t actually sell any books. Book acquisition for libraries is a process.
This is what we learned:
- There is a book request form at your public library’s website. If you fill that out to request a book, the acquisitions librarian will consider the book.
- The librarian may want to read three reviews before purchasing.
- Librarians generally can not purchase through Amazon, but some can if they have discretionary funds.
- Most libraries hold author events. Some librarians are concerned about attendance for the event, anything you can do to help bring in an audience helps them out.
- Meeting face-to-face is invaluable even if the acquisitions librarian is not available to meet with you. The librarians we talked to were happy to give us business cards of the appropriate person to contact.
- If the library is unable to purchase your book, they will add it to their collection if you donate it.
- When you write the librarian, include the ISBN number of your book.
- It can be difficult to pitch your own book. Going with another author makes it fun and then you can pitch each other!
20 Book Swag Pack Giveaway
We are learning that it takes a village to get your book off the ground and into a library. We are asking our friends and readers if they will help us out.
As a token of our appreciation, we are sending a book swag pack to the first twenty people who request our books for their local library. To receive your swag pack, please email me at pragmaticmomblog@gmail.com with the name and city of your library and your mailing address.
Thanks so much!
Our books are:
1) Parenting and Yoga
Mom As You Are: Daily Wisdom For Moms Who Lose It and Want to Mindfully Get It Back by Dawn Obeidallah Davis
ISBN: 978-0960054503
2) Keeping Girls in Sports Coaching Manual
How To Coach Girls by Mia Wenjen and Alison Foley
ISBN: 978-1936426034
3) Rhyming Picture Book about Japanese Culture
Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Nat Iwata
ISBN: 978-1620148020
Reviews by Kirkus, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly.
4) Compendium of Diversity Children’s Book Reviews – ebook
Best #OwnVoices Children’s Books: My Favorite Diversity Books for Ages 1-12 by Mia Wenjen
*This ebook will be free on Amazon from January 29 through Feb 2, 2020
p.s. Related posts:
Sumo Joe makes Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list!
SUMO JOE reviewed in BookList & Other Updates
Sumo Joe Reviewed in Publishers Weekly!
Wow! SUMO JOE got a Great Review from Kirkus!
SUMO JOE Illustrator Nat Iwata
Meeting My Editor for SUMO JOE
My First Picture Book Submission: Sumo Joe! #AmWriting
Taking a Children’s Book Writing Class
10 Unexpected Gifts from Blogging for the Last Decade
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me