(no subject)

[pensnest]

Am astonished to learn (via browsing at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books) that authors in the USA whose books are lent from public libraries receive *no* compensation.

Weird.

My cat is snoring. It is quite melodious.

UK popslashers - who among you is interested in visiting my Nest at the end of the month for a sparkly weekend?

Comments

[carta.livejournal.com]

I suspect that the books don't circulate nearly as much as one would assume, too. Probably about as often per copy as when friends share books with each other (I know there are a few books in my personal library that have been passed around from friend to friend). Since the libraries purchase the books, the authors get compensated the same as they do when I buy a book and then lend it to friends.

But yeah, our library system is run on the local level. Lots of books are donated, as well, and the libraries can have big sales where you can buy older books from their collection on the cheap, with all funds going to support the library.

[pensnest]

I have vaguely got the impression that a US library might be likely to be more copies of a popular book (eg Harry Potter anything) than a UK library would. Perhaps that would balance out the authors' income anyway.

[carta.livejournal.com]

It really depends on the library. A small one may only have the budget for a couple of copies. Not everything in the States is huge; we are a country of a few big cities and many many small towns. The library on the island I grew up on barely had anything, and only one or two copies of the popular books. They just didn't have the money.