Lending Rights

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

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 also 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
• non-citizens who normally reside in Australia (eligibility ceases if residency in Australia ceases), and
• 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, and
• self-publishing creators.

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

For more information visit the Department of Communications and the Arts website.