Local Author Policy

The Library is delighted to welcome, showcase, and support our local authors in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach County! If you are interested in adding your book to the collection, please see the guidelines below.

Submitting a Physical Book to the Library

Local authors who wish to submit a book to the Library may do so by providing a new, undamaged copy of their fiction or nonfiction book to the Library, either by presenting it in person or by mailing it to the Library. 

The Library can accept the following types of works:

• Fiction and non-fiction books

• Graphic novels

• Picture books

The Library cannot accept textbooks, audiobooks, technical or medical books, coloring books or activity books designed to be written/drawn in, pamphlets, video recordings, web content, or any other type of media not listed here.

Once submitted, the Library’s Collection Development staff will review the book for inclusion based on size, quality, content, and construction. Books will be added to the Library in the same format and with the same circulation rules as any other item in the collection.

If a donated book cannot be added to the Library’s collection, the Library will hold the item to return to the author if they wish to return and pick it up. 

Item Longevity

Local author submitted works are subject to the same circulation and deaccession policies as other items in the Library, meaning that they may be removed from the collection under the following conditions:

  • The book has not circulated (been checked out) in more than one year
  • The book has become damaged such that it can no longer be safely circulated
  • The book has been replaced by a newer edition of the same work

Just as with any other item in the collection, the Library will make every effort to preserve and keep it circulating, but the Library cannot guarantee that the item will not be lost if it community users fail to return it or it is lost during the normal course of transport and use.

Books removed from the collection for any of the above reasons that are still in readable condition may be placed in the Friends of the Library Book Sale.

Author Events

If you are a local author and wish to hold a book talk, reading, signing, or other author event, the book must first be provided to the Library and approved for inclusion. Where possible, the Library will consider the local author for inclusion in multiple-author events and showcases.

Submit Local Author Event Proposal