Santa Clara County Library District is happy to consider recently published works, either in print or electronic format, for inclusion in our collection. We receive many inquiries from authors, publishers, and publishers’ representatives and have created these guidelines to help you.
The Library routinely acquires books published by commercial publishers that fit the Library's collection development plan and meet our selection criteria. We also may acquire self-published books when they include unique local content, fit the scope of the Library's collection plan and meet our selection criteria, including quality, accuracy, and editing. Due to staffing and time constraints we are not able to meet with individual authors.
Having your book receive an independent, positive review in one or more of the major review journals (such as Library Journal, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist and Publisher's Weekly) is the best way to bring a title to our attention. We are more likely to consider adding a self-published book to our collection if it has been reviewed in a major review journal, and edited for accuracy. Paid reviews are not considered.
Contacting the Library
You also may bring your book to our attention by:
Email – Send information about your book to ask@sccl.org. In your email, please include:
- Basic bibliographic information about your book (title, author, ISBN, publisher, date of publication, number of pages, price)
- A link to your book's website and links to reviews or other coverage in the news media (if available)
- A brief description of your book and its intended audience and information about how or where to buy it
Mail - Please do not send a review copy. Send a flyer or promotional materials to:
Santa Clara County Library District
Attn: Collection Development
1370 Dell Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008
Unfortunately, we cannot notify you if your book is not selected because of the number of submissions we receive.
Donating a Book
Donated books are subject to the same selection criteria as books the Library buys. Materials not added to the Library's collection are sent to one of the Library’s Friends groups for use in a book sale.
We are able to accept donation of books in electronic format if they are compatible with one of the library’s existing platforms, and have no DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions.
About Santa Clara County Library District
The Santa Clara County Library District includes two bookmobiles, an online library, seven community libraries and one branch library serving Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. For more information, visit our Fast Facts page.
Adapted from The Seattle Public Library's purchasing guidelines, opens a new window
February 2014
