Yes — a self-published author can get books into U.S. library lending, and the documented path runs through two services: OverDrive's self-publishing channel and Hoopla's content partner program. The core requirement is a valid, accessible EPUB file; distribution takes a publisher account and revenue share, and each platform's 2025 partner documentation sets its own terms. Costs start at zero for the file itself if you use free validation tools.
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What does a library-ready EPUB need?
Two things beyond a ordinary e-book file: a clean EPUB 3 package and accessibility metadata. The EPUB 3 specification, maintained by the W3C since its 2022 recommendation, defines the format; the free EPUBCheck validator, hosted by the DAISY Consortium, flags structural errors before any platform sees the file. Accessibility matters more than indies expect: the EU's European Accessibility Act began requiring accessible e-books in June 2025, and U.S. library systems increasingly ask for WCAG-aligned tagging under the EPUB Accessibility 1.1 standard.
Which platforms lend indie books?
The two that matter for reach:
- OverDrive / Libby — serves most U.S. public libraries. Self-publishers enter through its Submit Your Content program or via an approved aggregator; terms and revenue share are set per agreement, per OverDrive's partner pages.
- Hoopla — runs on a pay-per-checkout model; content partners apply directly, and Hoopla's documentation states it accepts self-published titles meeting its content and technical standards.
Neither guarantees a library will buy the title — librarians select from a catalog, the same as they do for traditional publishers.
What does the workflow look like step by step?
Steps current for the tools' 2025 versions:
- Export an EPUB 3 from your writing tool — the current versions of Vellum, Atticus, and Sigil all produce it, per their documentation.
- Validate the file with EPUBCheck (free, version 5.x) until it reports zero errors.
- Add accessibility metadata — the schema.org properties and the accessibility summary — following the DAISY Consortium's Inclusive Publishing checklist.
- Apply to OverDrive's content program and Hoopla's partner program; both ask for sample files and rights confirmation.
- Set your availability window and pricing per each agreement, remembering libraries often license by copy or by checkout.
How does library revenue compare with retail?
The honest answer is that the numbers are smaller but steadier, and the documented differences are structural. Retail stores pay a fixed royalty per sale — 70% on many Amazon tiers, per its 2025 terms page. Libraries license differently: OverDrive agreements commonly use one-copy-one-user or pay-per-checkout models, and rates are negotiated per agreement rather than published flat. No source in this pack establishes average indie income from library lending, so treat any figure you see elsewhere with care.
What are the common failure points?
Three, from platform documentation and help threads: unvalidated EPUBs that fail ingest silently; missing accessibility metadata that blocks EU-adjacent distribution; and ISBN confusion. Libraries generally expect an ISBN for cataloging — Bowker's 2025 pricing lists them, and free Amazon ASINs do not substitute in library channels.
What the evidence establishes: a standards-compliant, accessible EPUB plus two platform applications gets an indie title in front of librarians. What remains unknown is each system's uptake — that is a curation decision made library by library, and no pack source can promise it.