#Local Author Collection
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 available for customers to check out through the Library's catalog.
To be considered for the physical collection, please visit Submit your Book to the Local Author Collection or Market Your Book to the Library to see the requirements and process for adding your book(s).
To find great e-books from local authors (and great indie authors from around the country), all you have to do is visit our Biblioboard site or download the Biblioboard Library app! If you're curious about how to submit your ebook to the Biblioboard discovery platform, please read on!
#Submit your e-Book
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. The first step, though, is to submit your e-book (via the Indie Author Project) for inclusion to this online collection. Once accepted, your work will appear in the Indie Florida Collection and be available to readers 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!
#Get Your Manuscript e-Book or Print Ready
Thanks to your library, you can now create, edit, format, and generate print-ready and eBook formats for your book—no matter how far along it may be. Pressbooks Public is a free, online tool that you can use to prepare your manuscript for e-book distribution or on-demand printing.
Whether you want complete control over your own content or the ability to collaborate with other authors and editors, Pressbooks might be just what you've been looking for!
You can start using Pressbooks no matter where you are in the writing process. There's no need for a separate word processing software. Bonus: When you're ready to release your book to the world, you can submit your e-book to the Indie Author Project directly from the Pressbooks site.
#More FREE Resources for Writers
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 own book with FREE Writer's Lab workshops at the Library. 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 Interviews and Author Talks or dive into local history with History Chat.
You'll also want to check out our many free research databases and digital resources. Here are a few :
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.
Several of “The Great Courses” cover writing and publishing very well. They're available for free on Kanopy!
#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.
#Book Recommendations
#Books About Writing
#Books on the Business of Writing (and Publishing)
