While Toronto Public Library 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.
Self-published print books
In order to consider a self published book for inclusion in the library's collection, we need the following information:
- Book title
- Author's name
- Author's address
- ISBN
- Price
- Type of binding
- Audience
- Ordering information
- Author's credentials (mandatory for non-fiction)
- A brief summary of the book's contents
- Information about illustrations (children's books only)
- Why this book would be of interest to TPL customers
It is also very helpful to have one or more reviews from objective online or print sources (not paid or customer reviews).
Please email the above information to CDD2@tpl.ca or mail it to:
Collection Development Department
Toronto Public Library
5120 Yonge Street, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON M2N 5N9
Please do not send a sample of your book. If the selector wants to see it, we will buy a copy.
TPL does not add donated material to the collection with the exception of large or valuable donations handled by Special Collections.
The library does not order directly from websites or pay in advance for material. If you would like to sell your book to the library, you should be prepared to accept a purchase order, send an invoice and wait a few weeks for payment, or make your book available through a wholesaler.
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 website.
Self-published ebooks
If you have an ebook version of your work, you can submit it to the Indie Author Project. The Indie Author Project is a publishing community that includes public libraries, authors, curators and readers working together to connect library patrons with great indie-published books.
Books submitted to the Indie Author Project must meet eligibility requirements. If your book is accepted, it will be available in the Indie Ontario and Toronto Collections in BiblioBoard If your ebook is chosen for the curated Indie Author Project Select collections, it could become available for purchase across all major library ebook platforms. More information is available on the For Authors page of the Indie Author Project website.
Ebooks must be submitted in EPUB2, EPUB3 or PDF file format. If you need help formatting your book, use Pressbooks.