Australian Lending Right Schemes (ELR/PLR)

Australian book publishers or creators—authors, illustrators, editors, translators and compilers—can be compensated for the loss of income through the free multiple use of their work in Australian public and educational lending libraries.

About the program

Important changes:

• ebook and audiobook title claims can now be submitted for Lending Rights

• the closing date to submit title claims for the 2023-2024 program has been extended to 30 June 2023

There will be no change to the current 2022-2023 survey with payments to be made in June this year.

Funding application period:  April 01, 2022 23:45 AEDT to June 30, 2023 23:45 AEDT

Public Lending Right (PLR) and Educational Lending Right (ELR) are Australian Government programs that compensate Australian creators and publishers in recognition of income lost through free multiple use of their books in public and educational lending libraries. These programs support the enrichment of Australian culture by encouraging the growth and development of Australian writing.

A creator or a publisher must register and submit title claims within five years from the year of publication. Books are surveyed in a sample of either public lending libraries (PLR) or school, TAFE and university libraries (ELR).

Eligible creators are:

• authors, editors, illustrators, translators and compilers
• Australian citizens, wherever they reside, or non-citizens who normally reside in Australia (eligibility ceases if residency in Australia ceases)
• those who receive on-going royalties from the sale of their book.

Eligible publishers are:

• companies whose business consists wholly or substantially of the publication of books and who regularly publish in Australia—’regularly publish’ is defined as at least once in the preceding three year period
• non-profit organisations that publish to further their aims or objectives
• self-publishing creators.

Payments are only made to eligible publishers if an eligible creator is receiving a payment.

Is my book eligible?

Eligible books are books:

• with an International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
• which have been published and offered for sale within five years from the year of publication
• which have a catalogue record in a national bibliographic database, eg SCIS or Australian National Bibliographic Database
• whose creators are individuals (companies or organisations are not eligible creators)
• with no more than five eligible creators.

Ineligible items include:

• music and audio-visual material
• magazines and other serial publications
• games or cards
• books designed for a single-use, such as activity books, sticker books or workbooks
• any other item without an International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

PLR and ELR payments are calculated and paid separately.

If you are eligible, your payment will be based on: the estimated number of your books held in public and educational (schools, universities and TAFEs) lending libraries; the proportion of the royalties you receive for your books; and the applicable rates for PLR payments and ELR payments.

This calculation must reach a minimum of $100 for you to receive a payment.

For more information, visit www.arts.gov.au