PLR/ELR pays out over $14m.

Bryce Courtenay's Solomon's Song (Penguin) was the Australian book most commonly held in public libraries over the last three years, according to the Public Lending Right Committee's recently released annual report for 2001/2002. The Public Lending Right (PLR) scheme makes payments to eligible Australian creators and publishers whose books are held in public lending libraries.

In 2001/2002, 5163 claims were made--1780 fewer than in the previous year: and 2624 new books were registered.

In May. a total of $5.937,373 was paid to 8501 claimants--8193 creators (3676 females and 4517 males) and 308 publishers. Claimants were paid $1.30 per copy for each eligible book for creators and 32.5 cents for publishers--up from $1.27 for authors and 31.75 cents the previous year. The majority of payments were between $100 and $19q. One author and six publishers received payments of more than $50,000.

The top-three highest scoring books in the three most recent surveys of public lending libraries are Bryce Courtenay's Solomon's Song (Penguin). The Potato Factory (Penguin) and Tommo and Hawk (Penguin).

Payments in the Educational Lending Right (ELR) scheme for books held in educational libraries in 200112002 totalled $8.37 million and went to 6891 claimants (6642 creators and 249 publishers). ELR's funding through the Book Industry Assistance Plan will only last another two years. A campaign to fight for ongoing funding is expected.

The top-three highest scoring books in the ELR scheme for 2001/2002 were Mem Fox's Possum Magic (Omnibus), Ruth Park's Playing Beatie Bow (Puffin) and Marcia Vaughan's. Wombat Stew (Scholastic).