# Create, Share, and Discover with BiblioBoard
CREATE Your E-Book or Print-Ready Manuscript
Bypass the high cost of traditional publishing channels and get your book ready to share with the world! Thanks to your Library, you can now create, edit, format, and export a professional-quality manuscript ready for e-book distribution or on-demand printing using Pressbooks Public, an online do-it-yourself book design and production platform.
To get started...
- Sign up for a free BiblioBoard account using your library card number
- Check out this YouTube playlist for free, on-demand training
- Bookmark the Pressbooks User Guide for future reference
Note: You can start using Pressbooks Public no matter where you are in the writing process. Upload files from your favorite text editor or use Pressbooks as a free alternative to word processing software. Not only will you have complete control over your own content, you have the option and ability to collaborate with other authors and editors. Bonus: When you're ready to release your book to the world, you can submit your e-book directly to the Indie Author Project.
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 local 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.
To get started, go to the Indie Author Project website to read the "terms of agreement" and submit your title. You can also submit directly from Pressbooks Public.
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!
DISCOVER Indie Authors in Florida and the U.S.
Read the works of local Jacksonville indie authors and other Indie Florida books submitted through the Indie Author Project program, including When a Stranger Comes, by Karen Bell, winner of the 2019 Florida Author Project contest. You can also discover the top indie books from around the country (all carefully selected by Library Journal). Just look for the books marked with a Select Award.
You can start reading right away, with no holds or waitlists on the BiblioBoard website. You can also download the BiblioBoard Library mobile app to read on the go. Note: If you have an Amazon Kindle Fire, follow these instructions to side load BiblioBoard Library on to your device.
# You May Also Like...
Read Local Authors
Jacksonville Florida is the home of many talented writers. To make your work accessible to the entire community, Jacksonville Public Library created the Local Author Collection. Physical items in this collection are housed at the Main Library and available for customers to check out through the Library's catalog.
Add Your Work to the Local Author Collection
To be considered for inclusion in the physical collection, please visit:
- Submit to the Local Author Collection (if you are donating a copy of your book)
- Market Your Book to the Library (if you would like the Library to purchase your book)
FREE Writing and Publishing Workshops
At the Library, you'll find the people, resources, and books you need to keep make your dream a reality. Get help writing and publishing your next book with FREE Writer's Lab workshops! We offer a variety of workshops throughout the year and at events like Jax Book Fest (Writer's Day). Please note: Attendance at some "hands-on" style Writer's Lab programs are limited to enhance the experience or because of room size.
Find upcoming writer's workshops
Find a Community of Writers
Looking to make friends with and learn from other local authors? Need help with writing, editing, publishing or marketing? Network with other Northeast Florida writers! The Authors Roundtable is a local 501C3 that supports authors in reaching their highest potential. Meeting on the first Saturday of every month at 10:15 a.m. – live at the Main Library – authors participate in educational forums, workshops, classes, and events. All genres are welcome.
Find them on the Conference Level in the Learning Space across from the Center for Adult Learning.
More FREE Resources for Writers
Writer's Lab is part of Library U, a collection of programs and classes for adults as well as free email newsletters that keep you connected, sharing ideas and learning. You can also meet and learn from published authors at Lit Chat author programs or dive into local history with History Chat.
You'll also want to check out our many free research databases and digital resources.
First, you can improve your digital publishing chops with hundreds of on-demand courses from LinkedIn Learning. They have expert-led video courses on Digital Publishing, Graphic Design (for those of you designing your own book covers), and more. Second, several of “The Great Courses” cover writing and publishing very well and they're available for free on Kanopy!
