The joy of libraries

Did you know that even if you only borrow a book from a library, rather than buying a copy of it, the author still receives royalties?

An author will earn a little money each time their book is borrowed from a public library in the UK, thanks to the Public Lending Right. This was established in 1979, following lobbying by the Society of Authors and others.

Although the amount received per book loan is small, the total amount an author can receive each year could be as much as £6,600 (as of 2021/22)

In the US, the system is slightly different, with an author receiving royalties only on the library’s initial purchase of the book. Likewise, with digital copies of a book, an author will receive royalties on the licence itself (rather than each time the ebook is borrowed).

Photo: Postmuseum

Here in Sweden, the system is similar to the UK, with royalties paid out annually based on the number of times a book has been borrowed. The maximum amount that an author can earn for 2025 is 302,000 Skr, which is around £23,000.

In addition, these library royalties in Sweden can be paid out to an author’s heirs for as long as the copyright on the book extends (in other words, seventy years).

Photo by Katja-Anna Krug on Unsplash

And this is (one of the many reasons) why I love libraries so much.