FYI – Via Sandra Singh at Vancouver PL:
FOPL Colleagues and Members
Last week, VPL hosted a visit with Peter Schneider, Manager of the Public Lending Right Program of the Canada Council of the Arts. As a quick reminder: The Canada Council for the Arts distributes annual payments to Canadian authors through the Public Lending Right (PLR) Program as compensation for the free public access to their books in Canadian public libraries. This is an indirect but still important support for public libraries.
One of the things he spoke about was the ongoing need to get the word out to creators about the program. As you know, PLR compensates people for the presence of their book in public libraries. People who may be eligible are: an author or co-author; an illustrator or photographer; a translator; an anthology contributor; an editor with an original written contribution. There are some other criteria that are outlined at: http://www.plr-dpp.ca/PLR/eligibility/default.aspx
One of the things he has noted would be very helpful is if we – as libraries – could let potential writers know about PLR in our workshops for writers, illustrators, etc. about PLR. Authors published through traditional means are often familiar with PLR. Self-published authors are less likely to be familiar.
The key points are: how to register for an ISBN (books must have an ISBN) and also what PLR is and where to go to find about PLR.
ISBN: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/pages/isbn-canada.aspx
PLR website: http://www.plr-dpp.ca/plr/default.aspx
PLR is now also including eBooks in their sampling. And also indie/self-published authors are eligible.
Thanks for considering asking your staff to include this information in any workshops.
Sandra
Chief Librarian
Vancouver Public Library
“A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life raft and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination. On a cold, rainy island, they are the only sheltered public spaces where you are not a consumer, but a citizen, instead.” — Caitlin Moran
t: 604-331-4007 | e: sandra.singh@vpl.ca