On the Inside: How do libraries play a role in publishing?
Welcome to the start of this series on my blog, ON THE INSIDE. I have heard over and over again that the publishing industry can be so opaque, confusing and mysterious. It doesn’t have to be this way! I created this blog series so that we can all hear from people on the inside of publishing. The goal of this is to get you the answers to the questions that you have. So if there is anyone you want me to interview, send me an email at stephanie@stephmoonco.com to let me know!
I am delighted to introduce Dean Jones to you in the first On the Inside posts.
Dean Jones is a librarian and host of The Well Seasoned Librarian. I started following him when I was doing research for a cookbook client looking to be on more podcasts. On his show, he interviews so many amazing cookbook authors. One of my favorite episodes was with Sarah Ahn, author of Umma: A Korean Mom’s Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes. And then I was lucky enough to chat with Dean on his podcast. Here is my episode!
I pulled together some of the questions I’ve had about how libraries operate and how they play a role in selling more books! These questions focus on cookbooks but I’m going to be interviewing a Children’s Librarian soon! So here we go!
Q: How do you find out about new books to order? What helps you decide which books to order?
A: To find out about the latest cookbooks for our library, I've got a couple of main go-tos. First, I regularly look through our distributor's new release lists and catalogs. That's where I usually spot books that match our collection goals and what our patrons are into. Plus, I also get flyers and announcements from publishers and agents, and sometimes those give me a heads-up on cool upcoming cookbooks.
Q: Are you buying every month? Once a quarter? What’s the cadence like?
A: Monthly
Q: How many of each book do you order?
A: I try and estimate the demand for the book and estimate how many each library should need or if each Library should have the book. As an example, a Martha Steward Cookbook would be more, an obscure book on Bitters less.
Q: How often do you replace books?
A: Often, due to damage and wear and tear. Unfortunately, this depends on the publisher and distributor more than it depends on available funds. More and more publishers are failing to reprint books with rapidity and a new book can quickly become impossible to get from the distributor.
Q:Do you ever order self-published or vanity published books?
A: It’s rare but not impossible. The main thing would be the demand and of course the ease with obtaining from the resource.
Q: Do you look at NY Times, WSJ bestsellers? James Beard? IACP awards?
A: Yes, this is a very large part of our ordering.
Q: What happens when a patron requests a book but it’s not available in your library system?
A: Normally we can obtain works through interlibrary loans. As an example California and Nevada use LINK+ that involves academic and public libraries. If the book is requested enough we might try to purchase it if possible.
Q: How can authors support libraries?
A: Authors can try and work with Libraries to do programming. Often an author event can be a great way for an author to grow a following. I have noticed that author fees for book events has become increasingly expensive, to the point of making them impossible to do with the limitations of a Libraries budget and this is sad. Even a lesser known author asks for several thousand now and I see this as a bit wrong considering the venue. I think part of it is the large amount of interns working with publishers who seem to not really understand the nature of the business. 5,000 for an appearance is a lot for a Library system.
Q: Can you share about a really amazing event/program that you did with a cookbook author?
A: I fondly remember hosting a Chanukah event a few years back featuring several authors. The atmosphere was lively and the event was a great success, drawing a significant number of attendees. The authors engaged the audience in a captivating discussion, addressing many questions about the diverse and historically significant traditions of Jewish cuisine.
Q: Tell us more about your podcast! What kind of guests do you like to have?
A: My most common guests are food writers, but I have had chefs, farmers, grain experts and others on the program. I love when authors ask to be on the program and really want to talk about what they do, that’s very fun for me.
Q: How do you book your guests?
A: Most of my guests are from agents and publishing representatives. I do often approach food writers or chefs personally, but I also get a fair amount of guests who contact me first and that’s always exciting.
Q: What trends are you seeing in the cookbook space?
A: The cookbook publishing world is experiencing a significant shift as authors, empowered by self-publishing and direct-to-consumer connections, are increasingly publishing books aligned with their own artistic visions rather than solely adhering to traditional publisher demands. This has led to the emergence of riskier, more artistic, and deeply personal cookbooks that transcend mere recipe collections, often incorporating strong aesthetics, unique narratives, and niche subjects. These books function as both culinary guides and cultural artifacts, fostering greater diversity, innovation, and deeper engagement within the culinary landscape.
Q: What cookbook do you wish was written?
A: There is a Frida Kahlo cookbook written by Frida’s Children, but I would have loved to see a cookbook written in her own hand and with her own words.
MORE ABOUT DEAN JONES
Hailing from San Diego and spending his teenage years in the Pacific Northwest, Dean Jones has become a seasoned resident of the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. A true foodie and lover of the written word, Dean wears many hats: librarian, cookbook reviewer, and writer.
Catch him at book festivals, farmers’ markets, bookstores, or savoring a delicious meal at a local restaurant. Dean’s passion for food and literature shines through his published works. You can find his reviews in “Amoral Beatitudes Magazine” and his insightful articles on platforms like Medium’s “One Table One World,” “The Cookbook for All,” “An Idea,” and “Authors What Are You Reading?” Currently, Dean keeps Benicia Times Herald readers informed with his regular cookbook review column.
Connect with Dean
Email: wellseasonedlibrarian@gmail.com
Podcast: Linktree (Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, YouTube)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsibP5oAUIam8sOT-MZdXig
Hi, I'm Stephanie Moon.
My mission is simple: to help you find your readers and transform your unique expertise and voice into a compelling author brand. At Steph Moon Co, we specialize in building strategic author platforms and communities that are essential for today's book selling landscape.
With my experience and knowledge from over 12+ years working in-house at publishers like: Chronicle Books, Harper Collins, Scholastic, and Hardie Grant, I’ll share the things you always wanted to know about just how publishing works.
