Purpose and scope of the collection

Okanagan Regional Library’s Regional Reads collection exists to highlight new and independent authors within the municipalities served by the ORL. The collection scope does not include full author back catalogues, government and corporate publications, or archives of local history.

Criteria for application

• Author residency: Authors must reside in one of the ORL’s 30 local communities or the book must be written about a community in the ORL's service area.
• Currency of work: Works must be published (i.e., copyrighted) within the last two calendar years. For example, in 2024 the ORL will accept 2022 or later.
• Content of work: Works can be fiction or nonfiction. Books for all ages are welcome. The work must be written in a language already collected by the library. Works written in local Indigenous languages will be considered for the collection.
• Format of the item: The collection only consists of print books and electronic books (eBooks/eAudiobooks) by local authors. Print books must have an ISBN and adhere to professional quality formatting and preparation standards (no coil binding, no staples, etc.). Electronic books must be available to purchase through OverDrive.
• Rights assigned: The author must be the legitimate rights holder and the work must comply with Canadian legislative law.

Submission is comprised of an application form only. No reader copies or donations will be accepted for consideration.

Inclusion into the collection

Accepted works will be purchased by ORL (typically one to two copies). Purchasing may be handled by a vendor on behalf of ORL. Items added will be subject to normal weeding guidelines after a period of 18 months. Items that are lost or damaged before the 18 months will not necessarily be replaced or reordered.

Inclusion of the work in our collection is subject to the Selection Policy.