Indie Author Project is the most incredible and dynamic thing I have ever been involved in creating. Following a hunch that indie books would become more important to public libraries, we embarked seven years ago on work we believe is going to change the face of library eBooks forever. As big publishers and Amazon move away from the idea that libraries can be a meaningful part of the reading ecosystem, indie authors understand the value librarians can bring to introducing readers to new authors and changing lives in the process.

In some cases, authors are publishing and distributing their books exclusively on Amazon. They have tens of thousands of readers and never think about the library as a source for distributing their eBooks. You are part of a movement to change this trend and ensure libraries are an important part of connecting readers and authors. Over the past seven years, hundreds of libraries have collected local eBooks from over 12,000 authors, and the best of those books have been identified, so you can circulate them to patrons (in an unlimited, simultaneous use model) with confidence.

As you likely know, this project began as a partnership with Library Journal on the SELF-e program several years ago. We are happy to still be partners with Library Journal as expert curators of these books. Together, over the past three years, we have watched the program grow beyond our initial expectations.

What has grown out of that initial partnership is the current Indie Author Project, a publishing community that includes multiple curation organizations and partners (including Library Journal), events like Indie Author Day, public library service and programming support, and a network of indie book contests built to help libraries find the best indie books and share them with their patrons. Libraries finding the best indie books for other libraries is an idea that works, and we have networked hundreds of librarians in an effort to make this easier. The idea is spreading around the world and creating a new book ecosystem in which libraries are at the center.

I wanted to personally send you some news on some exciting changes and expansions of our work around the Indie Author Project.

• SELF-e Select is now Indie Author Project (IAP) Select. You will begin to see graphics and references updated in the BiblioBoard interface and submission process over the next few weeks reflecting this change. These new collections will include not just the Fiction and YA selections from Library Journal (which will continue as normal), but also curated eBooks from other partners such as Publishers Weekly, Black Caucus of the ALA, and regional library editorial boards around North America working within our IAP Contest network. This creates more options and opportunities for your local authors to be selected and elevated.
• We want to help you let patrons know about the change. We will be contacting you with new graphics and language to update your websites promoting the bigger and better Indie Author Project service.

You will be receiving more exciting news from us very soon about the introduction of author royalties and the availability of Indie Author Project Select on other library eBook platforms that will let you share the best indie eBooks in an unlimited, simultaneous model on OverDrive, DPLA Exchange, cloudLibrary, and more.

Thank you again for all your help and support. Together, we are creating a new ecosystem for readers and libraries that is sustainable and optimistic. We are very proud to be doing this work alongside you.

Cheers,

Mitchell Davis
Founder & CEO
BiblioLabs / BiblioBoard
Indie Author Project