The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library is pleased to encourage and recognize local writers by featuring their books in the HMCPL Local Author's Collection (physical and digital). The following guidelines ensure that HMCPL adheres to our mission and collection goals while supporting the local writing community.
Local authors must live in the Tennessee Valley counties of Alabama (Colbert, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan).
Due to budget limitations, items for this collection will be accepted as donations and will not be purchased. Books by local authors that have been reviewed in standard sources will be considered for purchase as an addition to the library's general collection. Standard review sources include: Library Journal, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and Publisher's Weekly.
In keeping with with HMCPL's Gifts & Memorial Policy submitted works become the property of HMCPL and will not be returned to the donor. If they are not added to the library collection they will be donated to the Friends of the Library Bookstore.
In order to hold up to library usage, submitted physical materials should be sturdily bound (sewn or glued bindings). Spiral and comb bindings do not wear well, and books with pages designed to be filled in or torn out by the reader are not appropriate.
Submissions must be approved by library selectors before being accepted for placement in the HMCPL collection.
Library selectors cannot meet with individuals to discuss their work, nor can they provide professional reviews, promotions, or marketing of an author's work. HMCPL cannot acknowledge receipt of a submission or notify an author of a final decision.
Please complete the following form(s) for consideration:
