National Library Week - April 12-18, 2015

When my first novel was published, I ran into a curious attitude. I would tell people my book was available at the local library. Some folks told me I should not say that. I wanted people to buy my book, not read it for free.

That made me pause and consider. After doing a little research, and hearing opinions from other authors, I concluded that people checking my book out from the library were helping my career. 

The library has to buy copies of my novel to place on their shelves. If dozens of people check it out, maybe those readers will eventually buy my novels for their electronic devices like Kindle or Nook, or perhaps even purchase a hardcover some day.

I use the library because I can't afford to purchase all the books I want to read. Even if I do buy a book now and then, I have no place to put it. I have run out of space on my shelves.  I also like listening to books on cd while commuting to the day job. I couldn't afford to purchase the entire Sue Grafton series on cd, but I am checking them out one by one from the library. 

I know what you techie types will say. Buy your fiction for an electronic device. I do from time to time, but even at the lower price charged for ebooks, that can take a bite out of a budget. Guess what? You can check out ebooks from some libraries.

I'll just say something crazy here. I don't mind at all if you don't buy my book. But please do check it out from the library. I would like customers. Millions of customers. I'm ready to quit the day job and buy my own island. I'll settle for library readers until that day.

This is National Library Week. Have you visited your library lately? Stop by, update your library card if need be, and check something out. You might be surprised at how high tech your library has become.

http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek

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