Local Author Policy
The Library is proud to celebrate and support the creative talents of our community. The Local Author Collection highlights books written by authors who live in Union Township and gives residents the opportunity to discover and enjoy the work of local writers.
Who Can Participate
- Authors must be current or former residents of Union Township.
- Works should have been published within the past three (3) years. Older titles may be considered individually.
- The submission must be the author’s own original work and free of copyright restrictions.
- Authors under 18 years old will need a parent or guardian’s consent.
How to Submit Your Work
- Please complete the Local Author Collection Submission Form and include a copy of your book.
- Professional reviews are welcome, but not required. (Please note that customer or social media reviews are not considered professional reviews.)
- All submitted books become the property of the Library and cannot be returned.
How We Review Submissions
Each submission is reviewed using the same general criteria as the rest of our collection, including:
- Overall quality of writing, editing, and presentation.
- Relevance and appeal to the community.
- Availability of space and level of local interest.
Submitting your book does not guarantee inclusion, but every title is carefully considered.
If Your Book Is Selected
- Accepted titles will be cataloged and searchable in the Library catalog and placed in either the Adult or Youth Local Author Collection
- Books will remain in the collection as long as space and condition allow, and depending on circulation.
- Materials that are not added to the collection may be placed in the Friends of the Library ongoing book sale, with proceeds benefiting the Library.
Author Programs
- We are fortunate to have a considerable number of authors in our community. Though we would like to accommodate them all, we have limited time, space, and staff for programming. Programs for a single author are rare occurrences and are considered only when the book has received widespread recognition.
- Program proposals may be submitted here. Each proposal will be reviewed to determine how well it aligns with our current initiatives and program plans. A member of our programming team will contact you if your proposal fits our needs at this time.
Local Author Showcase
- Each year, the Union Public Library hosts a Local Authors’ Fair to showcase the work of local authors and introduce them to readers. Authors interested in participating should email the library at uplauthors@uplnj.org to be contacted when registration opens.
