Educational Lending Right (ELR): Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how Australian authors can receive annual payments to compensate for book sales lost when school libraries lend their work.
The Educational Lending Right (ELR) is a system that provides payments to authors to compensate them for the sales they might miss when their books are borrowed from school libraries.
Who it's for
This scheme is designed specifically for authors based in Australia. To qualify, your books must be included in school libraries, where they are made available for students and teachers to borrow.
What you get
If you qualify, you receive annual payments. These payments are intended to act as compensation for the lost sales that occur because your books are being lent out through school libraries rather than being purchased by individual readers.
What it costs you
There is no direct financial cost to participate in this scheme. However, it does require an investment of your time. To ensure you receive your compensation, you must register your book titles on an annual basis. This registration process is a requirement to remain eligible for the payments.
The catch to know
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the registration windows are short. You cannot register at any time; you must wait for the specific period opened by the issuing body. If you miss this limited deadline, you may miss out on your payments for that cycle.
How to apply
- Verify that your published works are currently held in school libraries.
- Compile an accurate list of the specific book titles you wish to register.
- Stay informed about the official registration schedule to avoid missing the window.
- Complete the registration process for your titles during the designated period.