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Public Lending Right (PLR) Program
Annual payments for Canadian book creators
Last Update: April 21, 2026
Funding available
$ 50 - $ 4,500
Timeline
- Closing date : May 1, 2026
Location
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Canada
Overview
Annual payments compensate Canadian book creators for library access to their works. The program supports eligible print, e-book and audiobook titles, including fiction, poetry, drama, children’s literature, non-fiction and scholarly works.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Raise awareness or mobilize a population
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 4,500 $
- Minimum amount : 50 $
Timeline
- Closing date : May 1, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
Location
- Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Legal structures
- Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Registration of eligible books for PLR payments
- Registration of new titles, editions, or formats
- Updating existing registered titles with new ISBNs
Documents Needed
- Completed registration form
- Additional Titles form, if applicable
- Title page and copyright page
- Table of contents, if applicable
- Support material for each title
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Writers
- Translators
- Illustrators and photographers
- Narrators
- Editors with original written contributions
Who is not eligible
- Deceased persons or estates
- Creators without original written contribution, where required
- Third parties or agencies submitting on behalf of creators
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- No retroactive payments
- Payments not cashed within 6 months are void
- Claims from deceased persons are not accepted
- Email submissions are not accepted
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed for eligibility
- Eligible titles are searched in selected public library catalogues across Canada
- Results are sent by mail in February of the following year
- If approved, payment is issued at the same time
Additional information
- Payments are issued once per year in mid-February.
- Payments must be cashed within 6 months of issue.
- Only living creators may participate.
- Claims can remain active for up to 25 years.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Public Lending Right (PLR) Program Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Public Lending Right (PLR) Program. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Public Lending Right (PLR) Program?
Annual payments compensate Canadian book creators for library access to their works. The program supports eligible print, e-book and audiobook titles, including fiction, poetry, drama, children’s literature, non-fiction and scholarly works.
How much funding can be received?
Public Lending Right (PLR) Program Funds up to $4,500 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Public Lending Right (PLR) Program program?
To be eligible for the Public Lending Right (PLR) Program program, you must:
Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Eligible creator with original contribution
Recent book with valid ISBN
What expenses are eligible under Public Lending Right (PLR) Program?
Registration of eligible books for PLR payments
Registration of new titles, editions, or formats
Updating existing registered titles with new ISBNs
Who can I contact for more information about the Public Lending Right (PLR) Program?
You can contact Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) by email at plr@canadacouncil.ca or by phone at 1-800-521-5721.
Where is the Public Lending Right (PLR) Program available?
The Public Lending Right (PLR) Program program is available the province of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon.
Is the Public Lending Right (PLR) Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Public Lending Right (PLR) Program is a Grant and Funding