610 Quincy St. Ÿ Rapid City, SD 57701

605-394-4171 Ÿ www.rapidcitylibrary.org

Date: April 26, 2006

To: RCPL Trustees

From: Maria McCarthy-Anderson, Chair

Board Policy Committee

Re: Author Sales Policy Revision

Action needed: Recommended to revise the Author Sales at Library Programs Policy to allow library programming presenters or bookstores to sell the presenter’s works at retail costs.

Background: This policy was originally adopted to address concerns regarding book sales at library programs. The concerns were that by selling books, the library would reduce revenue at area bookstores, or that one bookstore would have an advantage over another in conducting these sales. Therefore, any profit from the selling of the author’s works was to be donated to the Library Foundation.

There is a need to modify the policy based upon supporting authors who are asked to speak at a library program. In some cases they have their own supply of books and to obtain them as speakers they wish to retain the retail price of their materials. If the authors do not provide their own books for sale, library staff would notify all city bookstores of the opportunity to participate for sales of those books at the program. This will allow for an equal opportunity to any bookstore that contributes to promotion of the library program by selling the author’s book(s).

OPL

DRAFT

Author Sales at Library Programming

Authors speaking at library-sponsored programs may sell bring their own books to sell at the event, with prior approval. the author will be responsible for the collection and reporting of applicable sales taxes. The author may recover their costs and expenses for the books sold. However, in order not to give advantage to any one author, nor to disadvantage local book sellers, the author will donate any receipts over expenses to the Rapid City Library Foundation. If the author does not bring his or her own books to sell, the library will contact all city bookstores to notify them of the opportunity to participate in selling the books.

Revised May 10, 2006

June 11, 2003

RCPL Board of Trustees

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER