Submit to The Local Author Collection

Jacksonville Florida is the home of many talented writers, and to make their work accessible to the entire community, Jacksonville Public Library created the Local Author Collection.

If you would like to be considered for the collection please complete the following requirements:

# General Rules

• Use the form at the bottom of the page to request the required application. One submission per week, per author allowed. The application will be delivered to your email. You can also request a print application at any library location. Staff can print an application from our Campus at your request.
• Please include the application with a copy of the book, submitted at any Jacksonville Public Library location.
• Local authors must reside in the Jacksonville area (Duval, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, Baker, Union, and Bradford Counties in Florida, and Camden, Charlton, and Glynn Counties in Georgia).
• The book must be a donated copy and will not be purchased by the library for the Local Author Collection.
• The donated copy will be considered for addition to the collection based on our selection criteria and may or may not be added. Any donations become the property of the Library, which has the prerogative to keep or dispose of the item (as stated in Library policies).
• If the item is not added to the collection it will be given to the Friends of Jacksonville Public Library for sale in an upcoming book sale. Donated material will not be returned to the author.
• All books must be approved by the Local Author Collection selection committee to be added to the Local Author Collection.
• If selected, it may take up to 6 months for your donated book(s) to appear in the Local Author Collection.
• The author must represent and warrant full ownership and/or legal rights to publish all material in this book, including artwork.

# Procedures for submitting to the Local Author Collection

• Local authors must reside in the Jacksonville area (Duval, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, Baker, Union, and Bradford Counties in Florida, and Camden, Charlton, and Glynn Counties in Georgia).
• Authors must submit a donated copy of their book for review by the Local Author Collection selection committee following the policy for Local Authors and Small Presses: (Marketing Your Book to Jacksonville Public Library).
• The primary criteria for selection are:
  • Public demand and interest
  • Critical reviews
  • Presentation and readability
  • The 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
  • Compatibility of the e-material with our digital platforms or quality of the physical format.
• Books will be immediately disqualified for the following reasons:
  • Books by authors who reside outside of the counties listed above.
  • Unusual bindings – spiral bound, stapled, etc. Cookbooks may be spiral bound.
  • Potential loose pieces – loose-leaf pages, items glued inside the book, etc.
  • Lots of typos or other errors.
  • Limited interest to our customers – legal guides for California, manifestos, etc.
  • Nonfiction books that don’t have a table of contents, index, and/or bibliography.
  • Nonfiction books whose topics don’t match what’s listed on the cover.
  • Workbooks or other books that encourage writing inside them.
• The author must represent and warrant full ownership and/or legal rights to publish all material in this book, including artwork.
• Books donated to the Local Author Collection may become damaged or go missing and thus be removed from the collection. Authors will not be informed of this removal. A second donated copy may be accepted to replace a damaged or missing copy.
• Books donated to the Local Author Collection become the property of the Library, which has the prerogative to keep or dispose of the items (as stated in Library policies).

Please allow 1-5 business days for a response.