As someone who edited a book on self-publishing and its consequences for libraries, I recommend creating a policy that requires a positive review to add the item. The issue then is how to override this policy when appropriate, but that shouldn't be a big problem. I'm afraid that no good way exists to let the person down gently. You could just add the book and then remove it six months later, but I agree that doing so could have negative consequences later. At least this person isn't asking you to buy it. Many books on self-publishing recommend doing exactly what this author did.

Bob

Dr. Robert P. Holley

Professor Emeritus, Wayne State University

13303 Borgman Avenue

Huntington Woods, MI  48070-1005

email: aa3805@wayne.edu


From: Michelle Parker via Michlib-l <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2026 10:46 AM
To: michlib-l@liblists.org <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Subject: [Michlib-l] Self-Published Book Question
 

[EXTERNAL]

Hi All,

What do you do with books local authors drop off that may be of questionable quality? There's a local author who has dropped off their book a couple times to put in our collection, but it looks very poorly put together and I read a little and it seems like there was no editor. 

I looked over our Collection Development Policy and one of the criteria is "effectiveness of the format in conveying information" (which feels like it falls short on). They had dropped off two copies last time that just went in our book sale, but they came in again and dropped off another and I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to be like: "sorry, your book is poorly formatted and doesn't meet our collection development criteria"...

Any suggestions on how to let them down gently?

Thank you for your help!

Michelle Parker
Librarian
North Adams Community Memorial Library
517-287-4426
Logo