THE BATTLE FOR PUBLIC LENDING RIGHT by Colin Simpson, in THE AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR, quarterly journal of The Australian Society of Authors, 1981

The Australian Society of Authors, Sydney 1981 Stapled magazine, 8¼" x 5½", with card covers Slight dis-colouration to cover (sun-fading). Magazine in VERY GOOD condition Every Australian writer with books in Public Libraries continues to owe an enormous debt to the single-mindedness and dedication of one man, COLIN SIMPSON, who, on behalf of the ASA, fought and cajoled for Government recognition of authors' missing income through books borrowed in libraries (as opposed to readers buying the books to read). In this issue of The Australian Author, Simpson presents an 11,000 word account.(19 spirited pages) of the tortuous campaign which began in 1956 and was successfully concluded in 1974. Based on 50 cents for authors and their heirs, and 12½ cents for publishers, indexed to Cost-of-Living (payments have doubled by new millenium) for books held in libraries, determined by survey. Simpson provides international background, opposition by libraries, threats to withdraw books by authors, petitions, public meetings, spin doctoring, political apathy and mis-truths - a detailed historical account, with beneficial outcomes for all Australian writers.