Your Local Librarian:
A Powerful Partner
By cecily wolfe
hen you think about dream jobs, what comes to mind? A lot of writers and readers say ‘librarian,’ and I would agree. Fortunately, I am living that dream, but it might not be what you would expect. Librarians get to work with books, it’s true, but sadly, that doesn’t mean we get to read all day. On the contrary. We help others find the books as well as other materials and information they need, so the focus is on them. Our own reading and research helps inform us so we can serve our patrons as best we can, but most of our recreational reading is done outside of the library, on our own time.
Do you visit your public library? I’m guessing you probably do, because I don’t know anyone who can afford to buy all the books we want to read and pay the utility bills, too.
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But wait . . . have you visited your public library as an author, rather than a patron? What’s the difference?
Most librarians have some influence over purchasing decisions for the library. Some have more than others, but just about all of us can at least suggest a book for purchase and advocate for it. Depending on the library’s budget, a book you ask the library to purchase (your book, of course!) might be an easy one to pick up, or a bit of a struggle. You know libraries have to get a zillion copies of every James Patterson and Nora Roberts title, so if there’s any money left, you might have a shot. But seriously, librarians want to help authors, and local authors are special (although I don’t feel special at 2 am, working on line edits and crying into my coffee).