How to Get Your Book into Bookstores and Libraries

While online retailers dominate book sales, there’s an undeniable magic to seeing your book on a physical shelf, or knowing it’s available for free to countless readers in a library. For authors in 2025, getting your book into bookstores and libraries isn’t just about sales; it’s about credibility, expanded reach, and becoming a recognized part of the literary ecosystem.

The path differs significantly for traditionally published versus book marketers, but the underlying principles of professionalism, understanding the industry, and offering value remain constant.

For Traditionally Published Authors: Leveraging Your Publisher’s Muscle

If you’re traditionally published, your publisher handles the heavy lifting of distribution. However, you still have a crucial role to play:

1. Understand Your Publisher’s Strategy: Ask your editor or publicist about their distribution plans. Will they be pitching to national chains, independent bookstores, or focusing primarily on online?
2. Support Sales Reps: Publishers have sales teams that present books to buyers. While you won’t directly interact with bookstores for orders, your enthusiasm and willingness to promote can empower your publisher’s reps.
3. Local Store Outreach: This is where you shine.
   • Cultivate Relationships: Be a regular customer at your local independent bookstores. Get to know the owner, manager, or book buyer.
   • Offer to Host Events: Propose a book signing, reading, or author talk. Be prepared to promote the event heavily yourself to ensure a good turnout. Bookstores are more likely to stock books by authors who will bring in customers.
   • “Buzz” Campaigns: Encourage local friends, family, and fans to ask for your book at their favorite independent bookstores. This creates a subtle demand signal.
4. Promote Store Availability: When your book is stocked, shout it out on your social media, website, and in your newsletter. Encourage readers to support local businesses.

For Self-Published Authors: Navigating the Landscape

Getting a self-published book into physical stores and libraries is challenging but achievable. It requires a professional product, understanding wholesale terms, and proactive outreach.

1. The Non-Negotiable Foundations: Professionalism & Distribution

• Professional Quality: Your book must look and feel indistinguishable from a traditionally published book. This means:
  • Exceptional Cover Design: Genre-appropriate, high-resolution, and eye-catching.
  • Impeccable Editing: No typos or grammatical errors.
  • Professional Interior Formatting: Clean, readable layout.
  • High-Quality Print: Use a reliable print-on-demand (POD) service or offset printer that delivers consistent quality.
• Wholesale Distribution is Key: Bookstores and libraries do not typically order directly from authors or platforms like Amazon KDP (because KDP doesn’t offer the necessary discounts or returns). You need a wholesale distributor.
  • IngramSpark: This is by far the most widely used and recommended platform for indie authors aiming for bookstore and library distribution. Ingram Content Group is the largest book distributor in the world, and IngramSpark plugs you into their network of over 45,000 retailers and libraries.
  • Key IngramSpark Settings:
    • Wholesale Discount: You must offer at least a 40% discount (often 55% is preferred) off the retail price. Bookstores operate on slim margins and need this discount to cover their costs.
    • Returnability: Set your book as “returnable.” Bookstores will almost never order a book they cannot return if it doesn’t sell. Understand the financial implications of returns (you’re responsible for the cost of the book and shipping).

2. Approaching Bookstores (Focus on Independents!)

National chains like Barnes & Noble have centralized buying processes that are incredibly difficult for individual self-published authors to crack. Focus your efforts on independent bookstores, especially your local ones.

• Research & Fit:
  • Visit the Store: Don’t just email. Go in person. Do they carry books in your genre? Where would your book fit on their shelves? Are they supportive of local authors?
  • Identify the Buyer: Ask who handles book purchasing. It might be the owner, manager, or a dedicated buyer. Find out their preferred contact method and best time.
• The Pitch (Concise & Value-Oriented):
  • Be a Customer First: If you’re not already, start buying books from them. Build rapport.
  • Introduce Yourself & Book: Briefly describe your book and why it’s a good fit for their store and customers. Mention its genre, unique selling points, and any local relevance.
  • Highlight Professionalism: Emphasize that your book is available through IngramSpark with a wholesale discount and is returnable.
  • Bring a Copy: Offer a review copy for their consideration (or to keep).
  • Offer Value: Propose a book signing, reading, or local author event. Be ready to explain your marketing plan for the event (how you’ll promote it to bring people in).
  • Consignment Option: Many independent bookstores will start with a consignment arrangement, especially for new indie authors. This means you provide the books, and they only pay you a percentage (often 50-60% of the retail price) if and when the book sells. Unsold books are returned to you. Be prepared to pick up unsold copies.

3. Getting into Libraries: A Different Approach

Libraries operate on different acquisition models than bookstores, and they prioritize community needs and collection development policies.

• Distribution via Wholesalers/Aggregators:
  • IngramSpark: Again, using IngramSpark ensures your print book is listed in catalogs that library systems use to purchase.
  • OverDrive, Libby, hoopla, Bibliotheca (for eBooks/Audiobooks): Libraries acquire digital content through specific aggregators. Services like PublishDrive or StreetLib (or even directly through IngramSpark’s ebook distribution) can get your e-book and audiobook into these library systems.
• Direct Outreach (Targeted):
  • Research Local Libraries: Understand their collection development policies. Does your book fit their mission or specific collection (e.g., local author section, genre fiction, non-fiction on certain topics)?
  • Contact the Acquisitions Librarian: Find their contact information on the library’s website.
  • Send a Professional Pitch:
    • Introduce yourself and your book, explaining its genre, unique aspects, and relevance to their community or collection.
    • Highlight any positive reviews, awards, or media mentions.
    • Mention its availability through major library wholesalers/aggregators (Ingram, OverDrive, etc.).
    • Offer a free review copy (physical or digital, depending on their preference).
    • Propose author visits, readings, or workshops if relevant to your book’s topic or your expertise.
• Encourage Patron Requests: Libraries often purchase books based on patron demand. Encourage your local readers to specifically request your book at their library. A few requests can go a long way.

Getting your book into bookstores and libraries is a long game, especially for self-published authors. It requires persistence, a truly professional product, a deep understanding of the industry’s mechanisms (like wholesale discounts and returns), and a willingness to build genuine relationships. While it may not always translate to massive sales, the credibility and extended reach gained are invaluable for building a sustainable author career in 2025.