Local Authors Collection

Local Authors Collection Guidelines

Licking County Library is pleased to have the works of many local authors on our shelves. These books are housed in the Local Authors Collection at our Downtown Newark location. Authors who live within Licking County or whose works are based in Licking County may donate one copy of their material for possible inclusion in the Library’s Local Author Collection. Our essential objective is to add materials that appeal to a broad audience or have local importance.

In order to submit independently published materials by local or self-published authors, you must meet the following criteria:

Author/Creator must be a current or former resident of Licking County, Ohio.
Author contribution should be more than a single chapter, editing, ghost writing or an acknowledgement.
Author must warrant full ownership and/or legal rights to publish material, including artwork.
The work must be a donated copy and author understands copy becomes property of the Library upon receipt.
Donated material must be published within the past three years and is in new condition.
Books must be professionally printed and bound in a format suitable for circulation. Items that are spiral bound or stapled are not acceptable.
The donated copy will be evaluated based on our Collection Development Policy. We do not consider paid reviews or customer reviews from retail booksellers or sites such as Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
If accepted, a single copy of the work will be added to the Local Authors Collection and is subject to current weeding policies and procedures. Items that are lost or withdrawn are not automatically replaced.
The Library cannot accept:
- Unsolicited materials submitted by persons or publishers outside of Licking County
- Materials in eBook or audio format
If author’s work is added to our collection, it will appear in our library catalog within two months after receiving the donated material. Due to time constraints and the volume of inquiries we receive, we are unable to meet with individual authors, or notify authors of our decision.
If the Library chooses not to add a donated work to the Library’s collection, it is sent to The Friends of the Licking County Library to sell at their book sales. The donated material cannot be returned to the author for any reason.
The Library is not responsible for reviewing, marketing or publicizing a local author’s work, nor can Library staff offer editorial service or advice, whether the materials are included or excluded.
Authors under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian submit on their behalf.

Please complete the form below for materials to be considered for Licking County Library’s Local Authors Collection. Submit form (tap for printable form) and bring a donated copy of your work to one of our Licking County Library locations or mail to:

Licking County Library
ATTN: Local Authors, Collection Services Dept.
101 West Main Street
Newark, Ohio 43055

Local Author Submission

Title: *

Author *

Publication Date *

Author Contact Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Address *

City *

State *

ZIP Code *

Email *

Phone Number *

If you are a former resident, please describe your connection to Licking County

Please list title of professional review source(s), if any:

For works of nonfiction, specify credentials or a description of your expertise in the subject area

I understand that submission of this form does not guarantee selection. *

I have read, understood and agreed to abide by the Library criteria required in order to submit my application. *

Consent for storing submitted data *

Yes, I give permission to store and process my data