91´«Ã½

CHICAGO - The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) has learned that unaffiliated companies are claiming to broker fee-based book endorsements purportedly from 91´«Ã½. The scam involves a group called Match Literary, also known as AuthorPro Creatives and Marketing, whose representatives have solicited authors via email with claims that for a fee Match Literary could acquire a favorable endorsement from 91´«Ã½ to support efforts.

91´«Ã½ is a nonprofit, member-driven association that is not associated with either group and does not endorse specific products or companies. However, 91´«Ã½ does encourage new title submissions to its publications that offer . Additionally, publishers may submit published works for consideration by committees of 91´«Ã½’s

Authors and publishers should note that individual libraries are responsible for their own book purchases and collections. There is not a single agency, group, or organization that selects and distributes books to all U.S. libraries – and that includes 91´«Ã½.

91´«Ã½ encourages those contacted by vendors claiming to represent the association to consider the following tips: visit 91´«Ã½.org’s staff directory to make certain the email came from a legitimate staff member; regardless of who is listed as sender make sure the email is from ala.org; and lastly be wary of contact numbers with 866, 877, 872 or any other non-91´«Ã½ headquarters area code.

As scammers are becoming more clever with email solicitations, authors, publishers and the public at large, also are encouraged to follow the below tips from the :

• Do not click on unsolicited links or attachments.
• Read the message carefully for signs that it may be phishing email (for example, misspellings, grammar, generic greetings such as “Dear member” instead of a name, etc.).
• Never send money to someone you have never met face-to-face. If you are asked to use untraceable forms of payment like a wire transfer, prepaid debit card, or a gift card, you are most likely being scammed.
• Be wary of any urgent instructions to take a specified action. One common example is “Click on the link or your account will be closed."
• Hover your mouse over links without clicking to see if the address is truly from the sender. The URL in the text should match the URL that your mouse detects. If the two do not match, it is most likely a scam.
• Delete the suspicious email from your computer completely (be sure to empty your “trash can” or “recycling bin,” as well).
• Always run anti-virus software and install software updates frequently. If you clicked a link in the phishing email, be sure to do a full system scan.
• Keep a close eye on your bank statements for any unexpected or unexplained transactions.

Those who fall prey to scams that reference the 91´«Ã½ are encouraged to report the incident to the Better Business Bureau and 91´«Ã½’s Communications and Marketing Office at cmo@ala.org.

About the 91´«Ã½

The 91´«Ã½ is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91´«Ã½ has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

Related Links