Do you use your public library? In Seattle and the surrounding areas, we are fortunate to have wonderful neighborhood and small-town libraries. As a schoolgirl the Issaquah Library was a common place for parental after-school pickups. Later as a mother with a young daughter, we frequented the West Seattle Library on a regular basis. Now, one of my grandson’s favorite rainy-day outings is a visit to the wonderful children’s room at the Bellingham Public Library, and I continue to visit my local library to pick up to request books or download audio and eBooks from home. These services are privileges I do not underestimate.
As a writer, libraries serve another purpose. My biggest challenge – and I am not alone here – is getting my work into readers’ hands. I am uncomfortable asking people to purchase my books or to write reviews – I do it, but I don’t like doing it. I didn’t become a writer to become rich and famous. I’m too much of a realist for that. Still, having readers is important to me.
I was reading an email from a niece the other day when a thought came to me. I suggested she request my new book – in fact all my books – from her own local library. Libraries exist to serve the reading public, and they want to know what you want to read. Using our libraries and letting our librarians know what we’d like them to shelf helps keep our libraries viable, especially in difficult times. My niece generously offered to take her sons to the library – one of their favorite spots – and make the request.
Would you be willing to do the same? To visit your local library and ask for a copy of Pandemic Baby: Letters to My Grandson Before He Could Read?
Or, there might be an easier way. Perhaps you’d be willing to check your library collection online and see if any of my books are listed. If not, there should be a link on the website to allow patrons to request specific books be added to their collection.
Here are the links in my area:
The Seattle Public Library https://www.spl.org/books-and-media/suggest-a-title
King County Library System https://kcls.org/faq/interlibrary-loan-suggest-a-purchase/#suggest-a-purchase
Sno-Isle Libraries https://www.sno-isle.org/suggest-a-purchase-ill/#suggest
Bellingham Public Library https://bellinghampubliclibrary.org/ask/request-an-item
You will likely need an active library card as well as the ISBN and publication date of any book you’d like to request. Below is a list of my books with the required information. For other books you can’t find in your library, you can find ISBN and publication date on Amazon.
Pandemic Baby: Letters to My Grandson Before He Could Read (ISBN 979-8304136532, December 19, 2024)
The Ex-Mexican Wives Club: A Memoir (ISBN 978-1701090576, October 19, 2019)
Mom’s Last Move: A Memoir (ISBN 978-1730764233, November 2, 2018)
The Thirty-Ninth Victim: A Memoir (ISBN 978-1717582072, April 29, 2018)
Walking Home (The Alki Trilogy) (ISBN 978-1974165742, April 20, 2015)
Biking Uphill (The Alki Trilogy) (ISBN 978-1974164738, May 6, 2014)
Running Secrets (The Alki Trilogy) (ISBN 978-1974128150, December 30, 2013)
Thank you using your public library and for considering this request. If you decide to give it a try and suggest your library purchase a title, would you please let me know how it goes?
