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Local Author Exhibit

 
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61st Annual Local Author Exhibit

January 30, 2027

 
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us
Annual Short Story Contest
Conversation With Poets
  

Register below beginning:

Friday, September 11, 2026, through Wednesday, November 25, 2026

View the 60th Annual Virtual Exhibit here

About the Program

The Local Author Program highlights the intellectual and creative accomplishments of writers in the San Diego region. It is presented to interest readers and to highlight the diverse and abundant talent we have locally. The centerpiece of the Local Author Program is the Local Author Exhibit. The Exhibit includes print books and ebooks written by adults, teens and children. In its 61st year, the Exhibit aims to bring exposure to local talent and nurture the pursuit of the writing arts in San Diego.
 
A call for submissions goes out in September, inviting San Diego County authors who have published books in the current year to register for the program and submit their books. The annual deadline for submitting books is typically in late November.
 
Qualified books are displayed during the entire month of February in the Dickinson Popular Library at the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common. Participants are invited to attend a special live reception which includes the public unveiling. Submitted publications are also featured in a Virtual Exhibit lasting from February to January of the following year and features author information, book cover images, titles and publishing information. In March, the books are  processed for public check-out and will circulate for one year.
 
The San Diego Public Library has long hosted special events for authors, including book discussions, writing workshops, author talks and conferences, and spoken word events. In addition to the Local Author Showcase, the Library also sponsors an annual Short Story Contest , now in its 10th year, which has been well received by the literary community.
 
Over the years, the library has continued to feature innovative programs for local authors to share their craft with the community. Since 2021, the library has partnered with San Diego Poetry Annual to produce Conversations with Poets and Poetry in Ocean, another well-received and very San Diego event that merges the city’s vibrant poetry and spoken word scene with the region’s world-renowned surf culture!
 
San Diego Public Library is grateful to the Friends of the San Diego Central Library for their generous support and sponsorship of the Local Author Exhibit. Please check the library’s event calendar often for upcoming author-related programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Local Author Exhibit?

It is an annual event and key component of the Local Author Program open to present San Diego County residents who published a book in the current year. 

When and where is the Exhibit held?

Join us for the Opening of the Exhibit & Celebration of Local Authors in January 2027. In February 2027, the showcase of books will be on display in the Dickinson Popular Library of the San Diego Central Library.

How many books am I allowed to submit? How many copies do you need?

Please submit only one (1) book per author. We accept only one copy. Unrequested additional copies will be donated to the Friends of the Library where they may be sold to benefit the library.

May chapbooks, pamphlets and individual chapters by local authors be submitted?

Except for poetry chapbooks, and Zines, only books with proper bookbinding and format may be submitted. No pamphlets, brochures or stapled material can be accepted (Teens excluded).

What if I just heard about the Program this year or my book was published before 2026?

We’ll accept books published the year before (in 2026) that did not participate in the previous year. Books published before 2026 do not qualify.

What is the Online Exhibit?

The Online Exhibit features authors and their information including book covers, publishers, and bios. It opens in February at the same time as the live exhibit and closes in March of the following year.

Can I submit an eBook?

eBooks are accepted for display purposes only. To participate, authors must upload an image of the book’s cover through the online registration form.

My book is in both print and eBook format. Which do you prefer?

Please register and submit only the print edition.

What is the deadline for entering the Local Author Exhibit?

Registration must be completed, and books must be received by Wednesday, November 25, 2026.

Can self-published materials be submitted?

Yes. The Local Author Program reflects the diversity of the publishing world.

What happens to the books submitted for the Exhibit?

Books in the Exhibit circulate for one year (3/27 – 3/28). Afterward, qualified books may be added to the collection in compliance with SDPL's Collection Development Policy, including whether or not they have professional reviews. eBooks cannot be added now unless they are available through the library’s cloudLibrary digital format vendor.

Can my book be checked out?

Yes. After the Exhibit ends in the spring, books will be shelved alphabetically by author's last name in the Local Author Collection located in the Dickenson Popular Library on the first floor. Books won’t be searchable in the library catalog, but the author and book title can be found in the Online Exhibit.

What happens to the books not included in the collection?

During the registration process, authors can choose whether they want their books returned to them or donated to the Friends of the Library, where they may be sold to benefit the library.

Contact Us

For more information about the Local Author Program, contact us at localauthor@sandiego.gov. For other events at the San Diego Public Library locations, or to search for materials in the Library's catalog or to find links to numerous additional resources, please visit www.SanDiegoLibrary.org or call the San Diego Public Library at 619-236-5800.

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