Will we see you there? #indielib26 #pla2026 #pla26

Takeaway: foster conversations with patrons about what they want and how digital buying works (or doesn't work) for libraries. Some things aren't available, some things are astronomically priced, and patrons should know that. #indielib26

"You can't not have this book in your collection, so I guess we're buying it." Digital collection development in a nutshell. #indielib26

Additional titles are added after publication as demand increases - surprise hits, award winners, national book club picks.

Libraries very rarely order things that are not in stock! Can confirm. We have fiscal year deadlines and can't be messing around with items that may not show up. #indielib26

Helping the Midlist Survive: Buying Beyond the Algorithm coming at us from Ingram.

Ingram doesn't expect to get to their new normal until the end of 2026 (*deep breath*). Pre-publication ordering 6 to 2 months before, then holds filling up to 3 months post-publication.

#indielib26

How do libraries think about the tension between meeting patron demand and building deep, diverse collections on limited budgets?

Librarians struggle to market their online holdings as well as they do for physical collections.

#indielib26

Data Deep Dive: Resisting Market Logic in Library Collections is our next #indielib26 panel.

How can we resist the influence of corporate power, private equity, and commercial bias in shaping library collections?

What is driving collection purchases/format purchases in libraries today?

Everyone could do a better job educating authors about what they give away when they go with Amazon as their publisher. Also, many people don't use the library if the digital book is available. Libraries will care about the book well after the period of time just after publication. #indielib26

Last myth pairing: Adding friction to library borrowing is economically necessary to protect book sales/There's already too much friction and it's contributing to the decline in reading in the United States

We need more concrete, reliable data about this.
#indielib26

When a book it not in stock where libraries go to buy it, it makes it very difficult to buy for the library!

Next myth pairing: Most libraries function similarly and want similar things from publishers/most publishers function similarly, and they're making $$$ #indielib26

Presenter is pushing indie publishers to get their titles in review sources because reviews are an important part of collection policies and refuting challenges but . . . maybe that shouldn't be the case? Maybe build your policy without a reliance on book reviews for collection work. #indielib26

so if indie authors are only published in print, we might not be able to add them to the collection because of budget constraints. Metadata that is clear and accurate from the get go makes it easier. #indielib26

Paired myths: Libraries only want to buy bestsellers/Indie publishers make it so hard for libraries to buy their books.

Indie publishers give voices to authors that are often overlooked by the Big Five and other mainstream publishers! Challenges include budgets (diverting $ to digital) #indielib26

Moving on the the Mythbusting! panel at #indielib26 - the stated goal is to unravel some persistent myths that librarians and publishers still believe, such as "library sales cannibalize consumer sales"

"The people who run technology companies are the most powerful people (which sucks)." - Sarah Lamdan #indielib26

"We should be able to enjoy technology without being exploited" - Sarah Lamdan #indielib26

Data collection (10,000 sources) includes any government agencies you interact with, GPS from car and tech, healthcare and biometric data, social media--there is no effective data privacy law in the United States. #indielib26

How Thomson Reuters Powers ICE and Palantir Thomson Reuters’ data, which can include peoples’ addresses and details on their ethnicity, is linked to tools used ICE.

From this morning @404media.co: "How Thomson Reuters Powers ICE and Palantir": www.404media.co/how-thomson-... #indielib26

Librarianship at the Crossroads of ICE Surveillance – In the Library with the Lead Pipe

From Sarah Lamdan and @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social: "Librarianship at the Crossroads of Ice Surveillance" (2019): www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2019/ice-sur... #indielib26

Both happy and sad to hear the recognition of Fobazi Ettarh at #indielib26

IndieLib Forum — Independent Publishers Caucus

one week from today, tues 3/31, the day before #pla26, i hope to see you at the #independent #publisher & #librarian forum #indielib2026 #indielib26! www.indiepubs.org/indie-lib-fo... @libraryreads.bsky.social