This is in response to Silvano's earlier post. Here's an extract of what I had already posted this to the Goa-Book-Club [ http://groups.google.com/group/goa-book-club] Since the debate is continuing here, let me add a few points of my own. --FN --
Dear all: I think there is some (a lot?) of misunderstanding here. While Silvano's plea does sound rational and logical, it overlooks the fact that there are some rules and procedures in place that are necessary to get your book into the library network in Goa. This is true of any place, including the Library of Congress and the British Library. (BTW, did you know that the Library of Congress has had buying agents for books in Goa too? If not mistaken, Rajhauns has been functioning at this job.) Since this issue is of interest and relevance to all authors, permit me to go through it in some detail. * Under legal requirements, you need to submit three FREE copies of every book published in Goa to the Central Library, Panjim. (You are also required to send a copy each to one of the four national libraries across India... why Central Library, Goa, perhaps the oldest public library in the country is not also considered a 'national' library is something that beats me.) * Along with these, or subsequently, you may also submit 10 copies, BILLED to the Central Library, at a discount of 20%. They will clear your bill usually in the next 3 months or less, and send copies of your book to libraries that come under them. * Based on the three free copies, the Government of Goa gazettes a list of books published locally, in all the languages -- local or otherwise -- in Goa during the past year. * Based on this list, they will also order copies under the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation (a GoI organisation) schemes. Usually, they order 80 copies of books priced below Rs 200 and 30 or 20 copies of books priced between Rs 200 to 1000. They may not order copies of books priced above Rs 1000. My understanding is that these books are sent to libraries in different parts of India, though I might be corrected on this. What this means is: * If you don't submit the three free copies, there will be no record of your book having being published in Goa. * If your book is published out of Goa, the above rules do not apply. But I think that the library might buy some Goa-related books if approached (though I'm not sure about this). * Anyone is also free to gift a copy of their Goa-related (or other) book published to the libraries concerned. If you request (or someone you know requests) them to buy a copy, they would consider the same. I recall requesting a large number of journalism books -- needed for people in our profession -- to the Central Library, and they did implement that. Needless to say, these requests should be written. At least via email. Try "lib-cent. goa" <lib-cent....@nic.in>, There are a whole lot of municipal and college libraries which would not get copies of Goa-related books, if they are not aware of the same.... This happens with some of the books I've been involved with too. No conspiracy here, just the many gaps in a small market, lack of sufficient information, and not enough awareness over procedure. FN -- FN +91-832-2409490 or +91-9822122436 f...@goa-india.org Books from Goa,1556 http://scr.bi/Goa1556Books Audio recordings (mostly from Goa): http://bit.ly/GoaRecordings