Venkat Raman
Auckland, February 11, 2021
Registration closes on March 1, 2021
Venkat Raman
Auckland, February 11, 2021 
(Image from Internal Affairs Website)
The National Libraries of New Zealand, which is a part of the Department of Internal Affairs has for called for applications under its ‘Public Lending Right Scheme’ for 2021.
Registrations are now open but close on March 1, 2021.
National Librarian Rachel Esson said that that the National Library of New Zealand makes payments to New Zealand authors, illustrators and Editors from the Public Lending Right Scheme for the New Zealand Authors Fund.
Increased disbursement
“In 2020, the size of the Fund was increased to $2.4 million and hence we are able to distribute money to 1180 authors. However, each year, some authors miss out because they do not register on time. We are keen to get the message out to authors so that they can benefit from the scheme,” she said.
Ms Esson said that the PLR fund recognises authors from the fact that their books are available for use in libraries.
“Authors must register every year to be eligible for payments every year but it is worth the effort. There are criteria that must be met to receive payment. Applicants must be New Zealand residents, must have at least 50 copies of a Title in New Zealand Libraries and must register between January 1 and March 1 every year. Authors must re-register every year even if they do not have new books,” she said.
The eligibility criteria
The scheme makes payments for books published by 1 January of the registration year and doesn’t include eBooks or audiobooks.
Adult books that are at least 48 pages long.
Children’s books that are at least 24 pages of text or text and illustrations
Poetry that are at least 24 pages in length.
Editors registering must have contributed at least 48 pages to the book they are editing.
New Zealand libraries should have at least 50 copies of each title to get a payment.
The money received by each author depends on the number of copies of their works held by libraries. Payments for this year will be made on or before December 31, 2021.
The National Library of New Zealand, which is part of Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs, administers the scheme with oversight from the Public Lending Right Advisory Group.
Source: Department of Internal Affairs, Government of New Zealand. The above story has been sponsored by
