What can YPRL do for local authors?
We connect local authors and local readers. Keep an eye out for our Local Writer stickers on books in our collection to discover new titles by locals!
How can YPRL help me?
Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea are home to many talented authors. YPRL supports local authors to connect with our members.
We encourage authors to reach out to us and let us know if you either work or live in our municipalities. Please email us at collections@yprl.vic.gov.au with the subject 'local author' and tell us about your work. In particular we would love to know if you're in Banyule, Nillumbik, or Whittlesea, and any links to online information such as a blog or website you may have. If your book has been reviewed, please include links to those reviews so we can add them to your bio!
The key ways we can support you are:
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Purchase your book for our collection
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Place a 'local author' sticker on your books to highlight them in our collection
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Publish a blog post including a short bio and information about your books, linking to the items in our collection encouraging library members to borrow your books
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Keep you in mind to feature in upcoming events in branches or in regional programs such as Booklovers Festival where we highlight the work of local authors to our library members
We also have a range of items in our collection specifically curated with help from Writers Victoria to help you be the best writer you can be, including:
- New York Review of Books
- Creative Nonfiction
- Australian Book Review
- Australian Poetry Journal
- Rabbit: A Journal for Nonfiction Poetry
- Women’s Review of Books
Being published on the YPRL blog
Our blog is a way to keep our members up to date with library news and local information. We encourage local authors to contact us and let us know they would like to be featured on the blog.
We will create a blog post with a short biography of you and your work, linking to your items in our collection to encourage members to borrow your books. If you would also like us to include a video of you reading a short excerpt of your work (no longer than 3 minutes) we can also include this in the blog post. Swinburne University have created these handy instructions on using your smartphone, computer or tablet to record good quality video.
Writing Groups
There are regular groups at: Watsonia Library, Eltham Library, Diamond Valley Library, Mill Park Library, and Ivanhoe Library.
Further Support
All three of our member councils - Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea - offer services and support for local artists including authors.
Banyule
The Banyule Arts and Culture team support artists of all kinds in the City of Banyule. Through their website you can find more information about opportunities for artists, find out how to get involved in local festivals and events and see the current arts and culture program.
Pinpoint is a searchable online portfolio of Banyule’s creative talent, providing a way for the wider community to access and engage with artists and makers.
So, if you have skills in teaching workshops or classes then anyone looking for an artist to run an event will be able to find you and offer you the gig. Or, if a filmmaker and a musician are interested in collaborating on a new project then you’ll be able to find each other via Pinpoint. Or maybe a gallery or art collector will be looking for a particular style and will be able to access your work through Pinpoint rather than a random google search.
Pinpoint is designed for practising artists – those who are actively and consistently seeking to improve their arts practice, people who are committed to spending considerable time working on their craft and see their practice as more than a hobby.
Nillumbik
Nillumbik Arts and Cultural Development
The Nillumbik Arts and Cultural Development team are a hub for the artists of Nillumbik. The council website has information including arts and cultural grants, newsletters and opportunities to participate in events or projects throughout the shire. They also have a vibrant and frequently updated Facebook page which we recommend you follow.
Nillumbik Prize for Contemporary Writing
This prize is awarded every two years and builds on the Shire's strong tradition of supporting contemporary Australian writing.
The competition awards the best work in each category along with the Alan Marshall Short Story Award,and Mayor's Award.
The winning entries are published in an anthology. The NPCW is presented in association with Yarra Plenty Regional Library.
Whittlesea
Whittlesea Arts is the home of information for artists living and working in Whittlesea. On this dedicated website you will find information about artist resources, grants and opportunities for local artists, opportunties to promote your own creative work and newsletters.
CAPOW (Creative Arts Practitioners of Whittlesea)
CAPOW is a resource for all creative artists living or working in the City of Whittlesea.
CAPOW aims to keep artists connected through regular meet-ups, fosters an annual artist trail and provides online resources for new skills and professional development for artists.
Keep connected to opportunities by subscribing to the CAPOW e-news.
Literary Festivals Toolkit
Frequently Asked Questions
Will you buy my books?
YPRL endeavors to include as many local authors in our collection as possible. If you happen to pop into one of our libraries with your book to sell, the staff will send your book to the collections team for processing. We are unable to pay you cash for your book on the spot so you will need to ensure you have an invoice attached to the book so the collections team can process it for you and ensure you are paid.
Some local author's books can be ordered from book suppliers such as Peter Pal or ALS. If your book can be ordered through a supplier, please email us and let us know about your book and where it is distributed and we can order it that way.
Be sure to tell us which local area you live or work in!
Will you accept a donation of my book for the collection?
Of course. Sometimes a local author would prefer to donate a copy of their book to the collection. If this is something you want to do, you can email us at ypmail@yprl.vic.gov.au. Alternatively you can drop the book off at one of our libraries where a staff member will assist you.
The donated book will then be sent to the collections team and be processed.
Can I do events at the library?
We love to feature local authors as part of program of events, including Booklovers Festival, a yearly celebration of local authors and writing. If you email us to let us know you are a local author at ypmail@yprl.vic.gov.au we will keep you in mind for suitable events as the opportunities arise.
Unfortunately it is not always possible for us to hold author talks or book launches for each individual release, however you should contact us to discuss what options are available.
I don't want to do an event to promote my book. Can I simply do a book sale at the library?
In general we don't offer this as a service. In our experience, the best way for authors to develop their audience is to engage with them through an event (some authors occasionally opt to run a workshop but again, please contact us about that option). Many authors include a book sale and signing as part of the event.
If public speaking is something that makes you uncomfortable we can always try and help you come up with different ways to present an event.
Occasionally we run special marketplace programs in our libraries for local artists, makers, and creators where setting up a stall is possible. Please email ypmail@vic.gov.au and we can keep you in mind about suitable programs.
Can I read my book at a Storytime session?
Where possible we love to have picture book authors read to a baby, toddler or preschool Storytime session. There are, however, copyright restrictions on what we are allowed to present to live or recorded audiences. Please contact us at ypmail@yprl.vic.gov.au to discuss whether this will be possible.
Can I sell my book at the library?
Unfortunately YPRL are unable to offer books for sale. We will however purchase a copy of your title and make it available for our members to borrow.
You've already got my book in your collection. How do I make sure people know I'm a local author?
Hooray! We're thrilled to have your book in our collection and we really want our library members to be aware that we have some great work from local writers whether they're self published, emerging, mid-career or established. We don't always know where people work or live unless they tell us! No matter who you are, if we have your book in our collection please email us and let us know who you are. We can then add a sticker to the cover, update our catalogue to reflect that you're local, and add your information such as author bio to our website so that we can help promote you.
Please email ypmail@yprl.vic.gov.au and attention it to the Reading & Literacy Coordinator.
Will you publish my writing?
YPRL does not generally publish work from authors on our website, however we do publish blog posts highlighting local authors. You can send us a biography and short summary of your work (under 300 words) and we will publish this. We also encourage you to get involved in our Write and Publish Maker Space at Watsonia Library, where we often have opportunities for writers to contribute to anthologies or collaborate with other local writers.