I was recently approached by a representative from a subsidiary of the national trade organization and asked to give one of my pieces to a national campaign to promote independent bookstores. What first caught my eye was how her pitch borrowed much from the language of contemporary social justice movements. It was a cheerful, youthful message with subtle, anti-corporate undertones we've come to associate with many "indie" movements. Very seductive. But then I started thinking. I started to wonder if it ethical for a professional trade organization to entice illustrators to give away their art without pay? What if the offer is ostensibly about promoting a greater social good, like getting people to buy local, and that sort of thing? When a not-for-profit organization acts as an advocate for for-profit entities, particularly small, independent business, is it wrong for me to expect them to see illustrators as independent business people and support them as such?

I tried to rationalize her organization's position by pointing to the AIGA, which regularly solicits donations in the form of graphic design, printing and paper, volunteers, and in-kind donations at the local and national level. Vendors and other professionals routinely and generously give time and money in exchange for a by-line or company logo on a piece of marketing collateral. And it can't be easy getting people to give, especially in lean times. Maybe I should be honored and excited that someone wants to use my work and help me to gain national exposure.

The idea was to provide their members with files that could in turn be downloaded and printed at their own expense, and used as part of their in-store promotional materials. The idea, I assume, is to give customers an added feeling of value to their decision to buy from their store, and not just preview the book and get it for less online. And there's the rub. Whether it's a bookmark, a leave behind, or a poster in the children's section, the art would function like any other form of advertising designed to convince the viewer to spend money. At some point, a vendor, such as a local printer, gets paid to reproduce the pieces. The printer pays its suppliers, rent, and electricity bill. The bookseller pays its dues to the organization, rent, insurance, taxes, its employees.

Who pays me for my work? Doesn't it have value?

The membership dues for the organization's members range from $200 to $300, and they offer listings for approximately 1200 member bookstores nationwide. Somewhere in there has got to be a fair usage fee for my image or anyone else's for that matter. Ya think?