Public Lending Right Program: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how Canadian authors can receive annual payments based on the number of books held in public libraries.
The Public Lending Right Program is a system designed to provide compensation to authors when their books are available for public loan in libraries.
Who it's for
This program is specifically for Canadian authors. To qualify, your published books must be held within the collections of public libraries. It is intended to recognize the value of your written work when it is shared through these public reading institutions.
What you get
If you qualify, you receive annual payments. These payments are often referred to as library royalties. The amount you receive is not a flat fee; instead, it is calculated based on the specific holdings of the libraries, meaning the payments are tied to how many copies of your books are actually held in those collections.
What it costs you
There is no direct monetary fee to join the program, but there is a requirement regarding your time and administrative effort. You are required to complete an annual registration of your book titles. This ensures that the program has an up-to-date record of your work to calculate your payments correctly each year.
The catch to know
The most important thing to understand is that the program is not universal to every library. The payments only apply to books that are part of participating library systems. If your books are located in libraries that do not participate in this specific program, those copies will not count toward your annual payments.
How to apply
- Verify that your books are held within participating library systems.
- Prepare a list of your book titles for registration.
- Complete the required annual registration process to ensure your records are current.
- Use the official portal to manage your registration: https://plr-dpp.ca