Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors
The Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors scheme was established in 2008 to provide for New Zealand authors, illustrators, and editors to receive payments in recognition of the fact that their books are available for use in New Zealand libraries.
Benefit of scheme to authors
As an author registered with the Public Lending Right (PLR) scheme, you’re entitled to receive an annual payment based on the number of copies of your title held in New Zealand libraries. This number is determined by a regular survey.
Surveying New Zealand Libraries — find out about the survey we use to determine the number of copies of your title is held in New Zealand libraries.
I recommend all writers register for the Public Lending Right fund. For years I wasn’t sure if I was eligible but it’s one of the best things I’ve done. Take half an hour and sign up. — Pip Adam, New Zealand author
Pip Adam, New Zealand author.
Register for the scheme
You must register with the scheme each year to be eligible for payment, whether or not you have any new books. The registration period is from 1 January to 1 March.
You need to be a New Zealand resident to register, meaning:
you have been in New Zealand for at least half of the last year, or
you have a permanent abode here.
Registrations have closed for this year's scheme.
Public Lending Right account
To participate in the Public Lending Right Scheme, you’ll need an account. This account allows you to:
register annually
review and update the details we have about you
review the information we have about your book titles
add any new book titles during the registration period, which is from 1 January to 1 March.
Log in or create your Public Lending Right account
To log in or create your account for the Public Lending Right Scheme follow these steps:
RealMe login: You’ll need a RealMe login with two-factor authentication. You do not require a RealMe verified identity.
Verification code: During the log in process, a verification code will be sent to your mobile phone. Use this code to complete the log in.
Log in or create your Public Lending Right account
Titles included in the scheme
The scheme makes payments for books published by 1 January of the registration year and doesn’t include ebooks or audiobooks.
Adult books must be at least 48 pages long.
Children’s books must be at least 24 pages of text or text and illustrations.
Poetry must be at least 24 pages in length.
Editors registering must have contributed at least 48 pages to the book they are editing.
Books must have no more than 3 authors/contributors.
You need to have at least 50 copies of a title in New Zealand libraries to get a payment.
You must be entitled to receive a royalty payment or income from the sale of your book. Self-published books are eligible.
Payments from the PLR fund
The Public Lending Right fund ($2.4 million annually) is divided among registered authors, based on how many copies of their works are held by libraries.
If you’re eligible for a payment, you’ll receive it by December 31, directly into your nominated bank account.
The payment appears as a Crown payment in your account. Tax is not deducted from your payment.
Inland Revenue information about non-taxable income
In the unfortunate event that you die after registering, the payment will go to your estate. However, your heirs may not re-register for you in subsequent years.
We cannot make payments for years when you were not registered.
PLR payment statistics — see how the fund has been distributed so far.
Operation of the scheme
The Public Lending Right Advisory Group advises the Chief Executive on regulatory proposals, policy, and administrative matters relating to the scheme.
The National Library pays for the scheme’s operation, and the fund goes entirely to registered authors, illustrators, and editors.
Public Lending Right Advisory Group
Surveying New Zealand libraries
We count titles by surveying a sample of New Zealand libraries, based on advice from Statistics New Zealand. The nature of the survey alternates each year, between counting all titles, and only counting new titles.
We survey the National Library, all the large public libraries, the university libraries, consortia like SMART, and a rotating selection of the rest of New Zealand libraries
All the print copies of a title held by the library being surveyed are counted.
This weighted survey methodology gives us an estimated count — you may find your title count is (frustratingly) 49. To maintain the fairness of the fund, we can’t increase counts to meet the threshold for payment.
We find that title counts may go up or down each year as libraries purchase or dispose of copies, or as we survey different libraries. However, the count for most titles follows a predictable pattern of increasing for the first 2–3 years after a title is published, followed by a steady decline each year thereafter. Depending on the genre, the rate of decline can be up to 30% each year.
The rates of decline for children’s books are greater than for adult books. We attribute this to children’s books having a harder physical life with higher levels of wear and tear.
While you could boost your numbers by donating copies to libraries, it’s not likely to be cost-effective.
Challenge a decision
To challenge a decision about the scheme’s administration, or the number of copies of your book held in New Zealand libraries for the year, contact us in writing or electronically at the above address by 30 November each year.
Legislation
Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors Act – New Zealand Legislation website
Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors Regulations – New Zealand Legislation website
Contact us
Send registrations, requests for information and queries to:
Public Lending Right for New Zealand Authors Coordinator
PO Box 1467
Wellington 6140
Email — PLR@dia.govt.nz
Phone — 04 470 4528