Comments - WHY WE FIGHT: SAVE OHIO’S LIBRARIES - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T10:50:40Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=537324%3ABlogPost%3A204481&xn_auth=noThere's probably a tipping po…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-24:537324:Comment:2046022009-06-24T22:05:07.442ZCraig McDonaldhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Lassiter
There's probably a tipping point here.<br />
<br />
That is to say, in the early going, library sales are critical to your survival as a start-up author. I've heard statistics to the effect there are about 250 libraries in the state of Ohio. There are upwards of 9,000 <i>central</i> libraries in the U.S. (that doesn't encompass branches). One sale to every "central" library in the U.S. <i>can</i> sustain a writer's career. That said, when you reach a certain level of success, that library proposition…
There's probably a tipping point here.<br />
<br />
That is to say, in the early going, library sales are critical to your survival as a start-up author. I've heard statistics to the effect there are about 250 libraries in the state of Ohio. There are upwards of 9,000 <i>central</i> libraries in the U.S. (that doesn't encompass branches). One sale to every "central" library in the U.S. <i>can</i> sustain a writer's career. That said, when you reach a certain level of success, that library proposition perhaps becomes undesirable from an author's perspective (a very nice problem to have).<br />
<br />
Obviously, I'm all for more compensation for authors, and in some ways, that two-month delay sounds enticing...almost a mirror of the film system of theatrical release, then DVD release, followed by pay-per-view distribution. However, having run this delay concept by a few in the library industry, I'm told it wouldn't work as we might wish to think. The likely result, I hear, is that library purchasers would:<br />
<br />
1. Lose the appeal for patrons in terms of offering current releases;<br />
2. (And this would be a killer for many in our writing community) Place <i>more</i> weight on reviews and critical/market reception of individual titles in making library purchases. Under the present system, many titles are purchased per force of publication. That wouldn't be the case in a library-delay-purchase world.<br />
<br />
And not to put to fine a point on it, but again, there are several publishers whose entire marketing plan is directed to library purchase (predominantly cozies — I don't read 'em but I don't wish 'em ill). As individual library's fail, so will those publishers and their respective authors. I see no reason why we should…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-24:537324:Comment:2045822009-06-24T21:06:14.845ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I see no reason why we shouldn't have the Canadian system. I can't survive in print on library sales. And I also see no reason why they shouldn't delay their purchase for 2 months. Let's be fair here.
I see no reason why we shouldn't have the Canadian system. I can't survive in print on library sales. And I also see no reason why they shouldn't delay their purchase for 2 months. Let's be fair here. Naomi:
Indeed, and as the aut…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-24:537324:Comment:2045352009-06-24T13:24:54.499ZCraig McDonaldhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Lassiter
Naomi:<br />
Indeed, and as the author book tour moves closer to apparent extinction, I'm seeing more novelists in the Midwest moving into area libraries to promote and sell their books.
Naomi:<br />
Indeed, and as the author book tour moves closer to apparent extinction, I'm seeing more novelists in the Midwest moving into area libraries to promote and sell their books. I.J.:
But from another persp…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-24:537324:Comment:2045342009-06-24T13:20:34.466ZCraig McDonaldhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Lassiter
I.J.:<br />
<br />
But from another perspective, particularly for first-time authors in the age of BookScan which can kill a writer dead within a book or two, library sales can and do comprise a significant portion of an author's per-title sales.<br />
<br />
Also, as so few books remain in print, libraries become the de facto repository of many an author's backlist. (In fact, many mid-list authors are signed with publishing companies that exist pretty much just to service the library market...those titles never see a…
I.J.:<br />
<br />
But from another perspective, particularly for first-time authors in the age of BookScan which can kill a writer dead within a book or two, library sales can and do comprise a significant portion of an author's per-title sales.<br />
<br />
Also, as so few books remain in print, libraries become the de facto repository of many an author's backlist. (In fact, many mid-list authors are signed with publishing companies that exist pretty much just to service the library market...those titles never see a bookstore shelf.)<br />
<br />
Accepting your premise for the need for increased compensation for authors, the fact remains in Ohio, the bulk of libraries receive ALL of their funding from the state budget and they're already on the ropes from a drastic cut made earlier this year.<br />
<br />
Strickland's proposal, if enacted, will ravage Ohio libraries. The libraries need to pay aut…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-24:537324:Comment:2045282009-06-24T13:10:42.835ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
The libraries need to pay authors (and publishers) for use. We lose innumerable sales every year. They also need to allow at least two months after release of a book for the book to make a few sales before it appears on the library shelves. Nobody argues that libraries aren't great for this country, but in other countries authors are modestly indemnified for their loss of sales.
The libraries need to pay authors (and publishers) for use. We lose innumerable sales every year. They also need to allow at least two months after release of a book for the book to make a few sales before it appears on the library shelves. Nobody argues that libraries aren't great for this country, but in other countries authors are modestly indemnified for their loss of sales. Joe, thanks so much for the g…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-24:537324:Comment:2045152009-06-24T11:46:39.469ZCraig McDonaldhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Lassiter
Joe, thanks so much for the great link, and thanks to Lesa Holstine for that post.<br />
What's been dismaying to me is how few authors have weighed in on this issue. (Neil Gaiman being the exception I'm aware of.) Ohio has produced a number of high-profile authors who should be stepping up in this campaign, but so far...<br />
<br />
And there's the other thing: if Ohio's governor pulls off this cut, you can bet others will follow him down this sorry path, decimating library systems across the country.
Joe, thanks so much for the great link, and thanks to Lesa Holstine for that post.<br />
What's been dismaying to me is how few authors have weighed in on this issue. (Neil Gaiman being the exception I'm aware of.) Ohio has produced a number of high-profile authors who should be stepping up in this campaign, but so far...<br />
<br />
And there's the other thing: if Ohio's governor pulls off this cut, you can bet others will follow him down this sorry path, decimating library systems across the country. Here's another post on this s…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-24:537324:Comment:2045012009-06-24T10:02:49.735ZJoe Baronehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JoeBarone
Here's another post on this same subject--<br />
<br />
http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2009/06/save-ohio-libraries-and-maybe-your-own.html
Here's another post on this same subject--<br />
<br />
http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2009/06/save-ohio-libraries-and-maybe-your-own.html