Local Author Submissions

The Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield (PLJCS) is proud to support our local creative community. If you are a local author, particularly a resident of Johnston County, we invite you to submit your work for review and potential inclusion in our library collection.

Collection Development Policy

For more details on how materials are selected, please review our Collection Development Policy.

Local Author Submission Requirements

To ensure your work can be properly reviewed and processed, please adhere to the following requirements:

Format: Children’s beginning readers and picture books must be in hardback format.
Page Count: Adult and teen books must have a minimum of 100 pages.
Exclusions: We do not accept spiral-bound books or consumable materials such as workbooks, fill-in-the-blank books, or journals.
Content Originality: All submitted works must be created without the use of generative artificial intelligence.

How to Submit

Review our Collection Development Policy & Local Author Submission Guidelines.
Complete the Form: Download and fill out the Local Author Submission Form, providing your contact details, your connection to Johnston County, and a brief overview of your book. The library also has copies available at the Patron Services Desk.
Prepare Your Book: Please provide a printed copy of your book for our review team.
Submit: You may drop off your form and book in person at our library or mail them to the following address:

Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield
Attn: Local Author Submission
305 E. Market Street, Smithfield, NC 27577

Important Information

Ownership: Once submitted, all books become the property of PLJCS and cannot be returned.
Selection: You will be contacted directly if your book is chosen for the collection. This process may take up to four weeks.
Donations: Materials that are not selected for the collection will be donated to the Friends of the Library for their book sales.