Contemporary London Authors Collection

18 September 2009 - 4:06pm

logo London Public Library is pleased to welcome submissions to the newly created Contemporary London Authors collection. Local authors of fiction, poetry, and plays are invited to donate a copy of their recently published fiction, poetry or play for inclusion in our Contemporary London Authors collection. Books will be listed in the London Public Library catalogue and will be available for borrowing after the collection is launched during Ontario Public Library week. For more information.

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Comments

22 December 2009 - 8:11pm � pabrown

Local authors

I find it curious that now the London Library wants to show support for local authors. I came in when my first book was published and the reception I got, while not cold, bordered on indifference. I practically had to beg them to take a couple of my books. As an aside, I see donating a few books as good publicity. I also run contests when a new book comes out, something even big name authors do. I personally have found a lot of authors through the library that I then go on to buy their books. But I frankly didn't feel much support from the LPL then or now. They have 2 of my books now in circulation. I wonder if those are even in their Collection. I'm not sure I'm inclined to give them more. Pat Brown http://www.pabrown.ca/ L.A. Heat, the first Chris and David mystery

14 October 2009 - 4:46pm � bookjunkie

Author donations

It is bordering on the outrageous that authors should be asked to "donate" their books to a library collection. Public libraries, of all places, ought to respect the fact that authors are generally poor (whether they have a financially supportive partner, or have a job to sustain them is irrelevant) and can ill afford to part with potential revenue. These local authors should be approached and asked to "sell" a copy of their book(s) to the library; if they choose to contribute to the otherwise fine work of the LPL, that would be their decision.

21 October 2009 - 11:59am � lplweb

reply from London Public Library

The rationale for asking for donations rather than paying for the books is that the collection's intent is to be inclusive--to include teens and young authors whose "payment" will be the thrill of seeing their name in the catalogue and their book on our shelves. Of course we pay for established authors' works in the rest of the collection, but so far the established authors we've spoken to are happy to support the CLA collection, and creative London, with their donations.

31 October 2009 - 8:38pm � penn kemp

CLA collection

I love the idea of the London local catalogue, but am in sympathy with the first comment. Most professional writers cannot afford to donate their works and should not be asked to. Perhaps a compromise might be reached so that authors' copies already in the Library might be available and listed as such in the CLA collection. Thanks for setting up the collection and celebrating our local writers! Penn Kemp www.mytown.ca/pennletters

26 November 2009 - 4:07pm � lplweb

Reply to Penn

Thanks for your comments, Penn.

As you suggest, we will be adding authors’ copies already in the Library to the CLA collection, and have deleted the phrase suggesting authors donate their works from the CLA inclusion guidelines. Authors are now welcome to submit an invoice with their submission, should they so wish.

Thanks for your support for this new venture; library users have shown a great interest in the collection since the launch and we look forward to growing it.

Regards,

Beth Whitney, Coordinator, Collections Management