Local Author Submissions
We welcome Local Authors who live within the boundaries of Los Angeles and Ventura counties to donate one copy of their book to be considered for the Local Author Collection. The Library accepts donated copies but does not guarantee inclusion in the collection. Items donated to the Library become the property of the Library and may not be returned to the author. There are two ways a local author's work can be included in the Thousand Oaks Library collection.
1. Books by Mainstream Publishers
Books by mainstream publishers have generally gone through several rounds of editing, design, production, and are reviewed by professionals. Because of the volume of books published annually, our professional librarian selectors rely on established review sources such as Booklist, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, etc., to help guide their decisions. Generally, we purchase these items from wholesale booksellers with whom we maintain contracts. Less often, we purchase them from retail booksellers. Author donations are welcome. These items may be integrated into the general collection.
2. Self-Published Books
To support the literary creativity and expression of people in our community, the library maintains a circulating Local Author collection of donated self-published materials. These works will be evaluated by librarians according to the criteria in our Collection Management Policy. Selected items will be shelved in a separate Local Authors collection, and maintained according to the Collection Management Policy.