For Local Authors
Please visit the Local Author Collection page for information on how to submit your book(s) to the Jacksonville Public Library’s Local Author Collection.
Interested in creating an e-book and adding it to a digital collection available nationwide? Check out the resource BiblioBoard!
For Small Presses & Non-Local Authors
If you are not a local author, the best way to bring your book, CD, or DVD to our attention is through reviews in recognized publications. A positive review in one or more of the library review journals will give your item an excellent chance of being considered by Jacksonville Public Library (and other public libraries as well). Journals include, for example, Library Journal, School Library Journal (for children's materials), Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and Publisher's Weekly.
You may send a digital flier to acquire@coj.net.
If you send a sample copy of your book, CD or DVD for consideration, it will be deemed a donation. It will be considered for addition to the collection based on our selection criteria and may or may not be added. If the item is not added to the collection it will be given to the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library for sale in an upcoming book sale.
Please see our Library policies regarding donations for further information.
Primary Selection Criteria
As a public library, we select materials whose content is created for a general audience rather than for the specialist or practitioner. Of the many books and other materials published each year, Jacksonville Public Library is only able to add a small percentage due to physical space, technology requirements for digital materials, and budgetary constraints.
The primary criteria for selection are:
- Public demand and interest
- Critical reviews
- Presentation and readability
- Author’s or artist’s reputation and significance
- Reputation and standing of the publisher
- Availability of the information or material elsewhere
- Local or national significance of the author, artist or topic
- Quality of the physical format
Selection criteria are listed in the Library policies regarding the collection and are carefully applied to ensure that the collection is as pertinent and responsive as possible.
Note: Jacksonville Public Library does not collect textbooks, books that are designed to be filled out by the reader or to have pages torn out, or books with removable parts other than compact discs or DVDs. Books need to be sturdily bound, preferably sewn or glued; spiral or comb bindings do not stand up well to heavy library use.
Share Your E-Book with Readers in Florida
Jacksonville Public Library is partnering with Library Journal and the Indie Author Project to help readers discover indie authors just like you through the BiblioBoard platform. To get started, you'll need to submit your e-book (via the Indie Author Project) for inclusion in this online collection.
Once accepted, your work will appear in the Indie Florida Collection and be available to readers here in Jacksonville (and all over Florida).
The best of these books will also make their way into Library Journal’s Indie Author Project Select (nationwide) collection, which is available to readers throughout the U.S.
Go to the Indie Author Project to read the "terms of agreement" and submit your title.
Note: Once submitted, your book will be passed through the review process, and you will be notified within 4–6 weeks if your book has been chosen as an Indie Author Project Selection. All submissions, regardless of audience or genre, may be included in your local region's collection, if you so choose!
Lit Chat Author Series
Lit Chat gives readers the chance to meet the authors that everyone's talking about - from New York Times bestsellers to up-and-coming local authors. There are Lit Chat programs for adults, teens and school age children. Check out the Lit Chat playlist on YouTube or subscribe to our "Completely Booked" Podcast to check out past interviews.
Becoming a Featured Author
Lit Chat Interviews and Teen Lit Chat Interviews (for ages 12-18) are 40 minute conversations between an author and an interviewer. Lit Chat Author Talks and Junior Lit Chats (for ages 5-12) are 10-15 minute presentations by an author. All Lit Chat programs include 15-20 minutes of audience Q&A followed by a book signing. Please note: We work with several local booksellers to ensure copies of your book(s) are available for sale on-site.
In case you didn't know: Jacksonville Public Library accepts program suggestions (of all types) from the community and from outside presenters. To submit a suggestion, please follow the process below:
- Carefully review the Jacksonville Public Library Library Programs for the Public Policy to ensure your program is a good fit for the Library.
- Complete the Suggest a Program Form
- A staff member will follow up with you within one week of receiving your suggestion.
Selection decisions will be based in part or entirely on the following:
- Safety and security of customers and staff
- Community needs and interests
- Ability to supplement and extend information found in Library’s collections, resources, and exhibits
- Ability to promote the Library and encourage use of its resources
- Presentation quality
- Presenter background and qualifications in content area
- Historical, cultural, or educational significance
- Age appropriateness of content
- Availability of program space
- Availability of necessary budget resources
If you have questions about the form, please email us at jplprograms@coj.net.
