There’s several books that have just come out on the bookshelves that I want to get…but I possess a combination of skeptism and penny-pinching habits which result in myself being a public library fiend. I want to know how long does it take a public library to start having a book on their shelves after it just got released to bookstores?
Anyone know?
There is no set rule. The Harry Potter books through Scholastic got to us days in advance of their release dates so we could process them and check them out at 12:01 AM if we wanted to have a special party. Other publishers want to keep them from libraries for a month or two after we order them so people will want to buy them in stores. In doing so regularly though, they risk libraries not going through them to buy books on other subjects, so they only dare try it with a few bestsellers.
Finally, there is receiving the book and then there is the time to process it. Most libraries will have a week or two backlog although there are ways around it – like getting the bookseller to process it before shipment, but that’s pricey. To estimate this delay, look at how well your city supports its library – long lines, worn carpet, bathroom graffiti and it might take your library longer than two weeks.
You can talk to your friendly librarians about this!
If a book is popular, its generally on the Request for Purchase list a long time before it comes out.
But if theres a book that you want to read, then just go up to the reference(heck, you can even call them) and ask them to put (insert book title here) on the RFP list.
I suggest getting some friends to also request said book, otherwise it could take a while.
I once waited 3 months for a book to be bought, and i WORK in a library.
References :
There is no set rule. The Harry Potter books through Scholastic got to us days in advance of their release dates so we could process them and check them out at 12:01 AM if we wanted to have a special party. Other publishers want to keep them from libraries for a month or two after we order them so people will want to buy them in stores. In doing so regularly though, they risk libraries not going through them to buy books on other subjects, so they only dare try it with a few bestsellers.
Finally, there is receiving the book and then there is the time to process it. Most libraries will have a week or two backlog although there are ways around it – like getting the bookseller to process it before shipment, but that’s pricey. To estimate this delay, look at how well your city supports its library – long lines, worn carpet, bathroom graffiti and it might take your library longer than two weeks.
References :