Last reviewed by Robert Prime — May 2026
UK libraries lend many millions of books each year. Authors who participate get ongoing royalty income-list growth — most indies miss it entirely.
The reasons are practical: KDP Select exclusivity locks ebooks out of library systems, and library distribution requires either IngramSpark (paperback) or specific aggregators (ebook + audiobook). Most indies stay on Amazon-only and never explore library distribution.
This guide covers what UK library distribution actually looks like in 2026, the platforms, the royalty rates, and when it’s worth it.
At publishing.co.uk we work with UK indie authors across every stage, so this guide reflects what we’ve actually seen succeed (and fail) rather than recycled advice.
What library distribution gives you
For each book borrowed via libraries:
- PLR (Public Lending Right) — a UK government scheme that pays authors per loan from UK public libraries. Distributed annually in February. Rate per loan: around £0.13, set annually (check the current rate at plr.uk.com). Capped at £6,600/year per author.
- Direct platform royalties — BorrowBox, OverDrive, hoopla pay per checkout or download. Royalty rates vary by platform and contract.
- Discoverability — Libby (the OverDrive reading app) has a very large user base; readers discover books they wouldn’t find on Amazon.
- Compounded series sales — readers who discover book 1 via library often buy books 2-5 on Amazon to skip the waitlist.
For an indie author with 5 books in a series, full library distribution can add a modest but real annual revenue stream in PLR + direct platform royalties. Smaller than Amazon revenue but a real revenue stream.
The UK library platforms
BorrowBox
UK’s most-used library platform for ebooks + audiobooks + paperback in some regions.
- Used by many UK library authorities
- Browse via library card + BorrowBox app
- Authors distribute via Bolinda Digital or via Voices by INaudio for audio
OverDrive / Libby
The US-led platform now widely used in UK too.
- Libby is the user-facing reading app
- OverDrive is the publisher/distribution side
- Massive global reach
hoopla
US-focused but expanding internationally. Pay-per-checkout model — different economics than the traditional library borrow model.
Boroughs / individual library systems
Some UK boroughs run their own systems alongside (or instead of) BorrowBox/OverDrive. Less relevant for indie authors; aggregators handle this.
How to get distribution
For paperback
IngramSpark (ingramspark.com)
- no title setup fee (IngramSpark made title setup free — verify at ingramspark.com)
- Distributes to UK + global library systems
- Libraries order via wholesale catalogues
- Author earnings = list price minus printing cost minus the wholesale discount you set (not a flat percentage)
For paperback library distribution, IngramSpark is the most common and widely recommended route. KDP Print doesn’t reach UK library catalogues effectively.
For ebook
Draft2Digital (draft2digital.com)
- Free distribution to Amazon, Apple, Kobo, OverDrive, Bibliotheca, hoopla
- D2D takes ~10% commission
- Royalty per OverDrive checkout: variable and set by contract
Smashwords (Draft2Digital-owned)
- Older but still operating
- Similar reach
PublishDrive (publishdrive.com)
- Subscription model (£9-£49/month)
- Wider library reach including specific systems Draft2Digital doesn’t cover
For audiobook
Voices by INaudio (formerly Findaway Voices)
- Distributes to OverDrive, hoopla, library systems
- Also reaches Audible, Apple Books, etc.
- Royalty per library borrow: variable and set by contract
ACX (Audible) — does NOT distribute to library systems. ACX exclusivity excludes library distribution.
If you want library audiobook: use Voices by INaudio, not ACX (or use ACX non-exclusive + INaudio for library).
The KDP Select conflict
KDP Select requires Amazon ebook exclusivity. While you’re in KDP Select, you cannot distribute the ebook to OverDrive, hoopla, etc.
Options:
- Stay in KDP Select — earn KU page reads on Amazon, no library distribution
- Leave KDP Select — lose KU revenue, gain library distribution + Apple/Kobo/B&N
For series authors: many opt for KDP Select on books 1-2 (drive Kindle discoverability), then move book 3+ to wide distribution + library.
Books in paperback can be in KDP AND IngramSpark simultaneously (paperback exclusivity isn’t required). So you can have:
- Ebook only on Amazon (KDP Select)
- Paperback on KDP + IngramSpark (library + bookshop distribution)
Public Lending Right (PLR) — UK specific
PLR is a UK government scheme paying authors for library loans.
Eligibility:
- Author must register at plr.uk.com
- Book must be available in UK public libraries
- Both print and digital loans count
- One-time author registration, then register each book
Rate:
- Recent rate: around £0.1325 per loan (verify the current rate at plr.uk.com)
- £6,600 cap per author per year
Payment:
- Annual payment in February
- For loans during the prior July to June year
- Distributed by the British Library
Impact for indies:
- A book with 500 library loans/year = ~£66
- A book with 2,000 loans/year = ~£265
- A series across 5 books with strong library presence = often £500-£2,000/year
PLR is small per-loan but compounds across multiple books over years. Register every book, every time.
What about international PLR?
Equivalent schemes exist in:
- Ireland — Irish PLR (separate registration)
- Germany — VG Wort
- Netherlands — Stichting LIRA
- Denmark, Sweden, Norway — local PLR equivalents
- Australia — Educational Lending Right
Each requires separate registration. Combined, international PLR schemes can add a further modest annual sum.
Realistic revenue expectations
For an established indie author with 5 books in a series, wide-distributed (illustrative estimates, not measured data):
| Source | Annual revenue (typical) |
|---|---|
| BorrowBox / OverDrive ebook checkouts | £300-£1,500 |
| Paperback library loans (PLR) | £300-£1,500 |
| Audiobook library borrows | £200-£800 |
| Direct platform royalties | £100-£500 |
| Total library revenue | £900-£4,300 |
For a single-book debut author: small but real.
The compounding effect matters: a book stays in library systems earning for many years. Backlist library revenue is much more stable than backlist Amazon revenue.
Library marketing — yes, you can market to libraries
1. Library catalogue submissions.
- Many libraries take direct author submissions
- Email a one-page sell-sheet + cover image + buy info to librarians at your local library system
- Free, low-yield but compounds
2. Library Journal reviews.
- US-focused but UK readership too
- Submit via standard channels
- Editorial review adds credibility
3. Public Libraries Online / Library reader newsletters.
- UK has industry publications librarians read
- Pitch articles + features
4. Library events.
- Many UK libraries host author events
- Free to participate; builds local reader base
- Particularly effective in your home county/region
5. School/university distribution.
- For non-fiction especially
- Browzine, EBSCO, ProQuest for academic — different distribution paths
UK considerations
- PLR registration is essential — most indies miss this. Free money for any book in library.
- British Library Legal Deposit — separate from PLR. Required for UK paperbacks; covered in uk-legal-deposit-self-publishers.
- UK indie book bloggers sometimes work with library systems for review copies — separate channel.
- HMRC — library royalty income is self-employment income.
- Welsh, Scottish, NI library systems sometimes have separate procurement; check via library aggregators.
Common mistakes
- KDP Select-only books. Locked out of library ebook distribution.
- Not registering for PLR. Free annual income missed.
- Single-book authors. Library distribution compounds with multi-book catalogue.
- Skipping IngramSpark for paperback. Without it, paperback misses UK library catalogues.
- ACX exclusive audiobook. Locks out library audiobook distribution.
- No library marketing. Library catalogues won’t surface your book without some prompting.
When library distribution is worth it
Good fit:
- 3+ books in catalogue
- UK-set fiction (PLR favours UK readers)
- Non-fiction with reference value
- Backlist authors wanting long-term passive income
- Wide-distribution strategy (not KDP Select)
Marginal fit:
- Debut single-book author
- Pure ebook-only KDP Select-exclusive
Bad fit:
- Single short story or novella
- Niche academic or technical (different distribution channels)
The bottom line
Library distribution is a slow, compounding revenue stream most indies miss. Register every book for PLR (free). Use IngramSpark for paperback. Use Draft2Digital or PublishDrive for ebook library distribution. Use Voices by INaudio for audiobook.
Total annual library revenue for an established 5-book author: £900-£4,300. Not transformational but real for years.
If you’re committed to KDP Select for the next 90 days: revisit library distribution when you’re considering wide. If you’re going wide anyway: set up library distribution now.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I be in KDP Select AND have library ebook distribution?
No — KDP Select requires Amazon ebook exclusivity. Paperback library distribution via IngramSpark is fine.
Is PLR taxable?
Yes — PLR income is taxable and must be declared to HMRC; confirm whether it counts as trading or miscellaneous income for your circumstances. Track separately for clean Self Assessment.
How long until library distribution shows revenue?
3-12 months from listing. Loans build slowly as libraries acquire and circulate.
Do libraries pay differently per genre?
PLR rate is flat. Per-platform royalties (OverDrive etc.) sometimes vary by category. Order of magnitude similar.
Should I distribute to academic libraries (ProQuest, EBSCO)?
For non-fiction: yes — different distribution path (PublishDrive or Bibliotheca). For fiction: no, academic libraries focus on textbooks.
