Local Authors

Markham is home to many independent and self-published authors, and we want to help highlight your creative work.  The Library is open to receiving into its collections the new books of writers and illustrators in our community.  

Who Can Apply? 

To be considered a local author, you must reside within the current boundaries of the City of Markham or within an adjacent municipality.  If you are an author who doesn’t meet this residency requirement but whose book is about Markham, you can also apply.    

If your book has multiple authors, or if you’re the illustrator of a book, only the person applying must be a resident.   

Books We Accept 

While Markham Public Library (MPL) welcomes submissions from self-published authors, we receive a large number of submissions and purchase self-published books very selectively. We are most likely to purchase books of significant local interest, or which have received media attention.  

 We accept applications for titles that are: 

• Newly published within the past 2 years  

• First edition (no subsequent editions or updates) 

• Written in English, French, or in a language that we collect 

• Have an ISBN  

• Be professionally printed and bound as: 
  • Hardcover 
  • Library binding, or 
  • Trade paperback 
• eBooks must be available for purchase from OverDrive 

The author must be the legitimate rights holder of the work being submitted, and the work must comply with all applicable Canadian legislation.    

Please do not send a sample of your book. If the selector wants to see it, we will buy a copy.  MPL does not add donated material to the collection.    

Due to the volume of material we receive, we cannot let you know if your book is accepted or not. If it is, you will receive an order from the library or one of our vendors and the title will show as "on order" in the library catalogue.  

Retention 

Items added will be circulated for 18 months as part of the regular Library collection, or until the item’s condition makes it unsuitable for further borrowing.  The Library reserves the right to remove from the collection any works that are unused, outdated, worn, damaged, or lost.  MPL is not able to notify authors when their work is removed.  

The Library’s inclusion or rejection of a title does not constitute endorsement of or agreement with its content.  

Through inclusion in the Library’s collection, MPL supports the author’s efforts to make their work accessible to the larger community.  However, MPL does not have the resources or expertise to act on the author’s behalf as literary agent, publisher, editor, publicist, or bookseller, and will not act in any of these capacities.  

How To Apply? 

Complete the Application Form below.