THE BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING—Control Number and Cataloging in Publication Registration
To register your book with the US Library of Congress, you can choose to obtain an LCCN or Cataloging in Publication (CIP) data. Read through each section below to decide which one to get.
Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN)
After you receive your ISBNs and an estimated page count from your interior layout artist, you should register the book for a Library of Congress Control Number. The LCCN is entered into a directory that allows libraries within the US to order a copy of your book. If your book is published outside of the US, check with your local library for the equivelent of an LCCN. This number will appear on the copyright page along with the ISBN. To apply for an account with the Library of Congress and an LCCN for your book, go to http://pcn.loc.gov and follow the steps.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication (CIP)
Library of Congress CIP data is a detailed description of your book’s subject matter, that is registered in the main Library of Congress database. It helps libraries find, order, and stock books faster. While libraries can order the book with an LCCN, CIP data gets the book in front of them and makes the ordering process even easier. It is beneficial if you are eligible. There are several requirements for getting CIP data, primarily that you are not a self-published author.
As a self-published author, you will not be eligible for Library of Congress CIP information. However, there are two ways to possibly get around this block. First, you can try and register your book for CIP information and just not indicate it is self-published. If you plan on publishing titles by you and two other authors, you will be considered a “small press” and will become eligible for the program. Or you can get Publisher’s Cataloging in Publication data, which doesn’t get you into the main library database, but it does assist libraries with stocking your book, so they are more likely to order.
To try to register for Library of Congress CIP data, go to http://cip.loc.gov and apply for a CIP account using the same instructions as for the LCCN/PCN account. The pages and forms are the same. They will research your information and make a deterimation as to whether they feel you are eligible for the program. If they contact you and say you are not eligible, but you really want libraries to be more open to carrying your book, you should contract a library distributor to create P-CIP data for you. The largest library distributor in the US is Quality Books. They can be reached at:
Quality Books 1003 W. Pines Rd. Oregon, IL 61061
http://www.quality-books.com 800.323.4241
Other Requirements
When you have published your book and get your first order, you need to send one copy to whichever place you have registered it (you can only apply to register it via CIP or LCCN). Use the addresses in the boxes below to submit a complimentary copy of your book. If you chose to use a P-CIP through Quality Books or another company, you must contact them for the rules of submitting copies of your book.
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THE BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING—ISBN Assignment
In the process of getting your book printed and distributed, there is the consideration of the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) prefix. If you don’t already have an ISBN prefix, you can obtain one in the US from RR Bowker at www.isbn.org. If you’re planning on writing and publishing more than one book, it is less expensive and easier to order 10 at a time when you register through their site. It may take up to a week for the processing of your application, so don’t wait until your book is ready for printing to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions About ISBNs
Do I have to get an ISBN?
If you are going to market your books directly and have no desire to sell them in a retail store or through an online retailer, you don’t have to assign an ISBN to your book. If you want to sell books through any retail outlet (other than one you may own) or if you want libraries to order it, you must obtain an ISBN.
What’s the difference between an ISBN and an ISBN prefix?
The ISBN prefix is included in each ISBN. It is the first several digits that are the same in each ISBN assigned to you and identifies your publishing company to retailers. If you use all your ISBNs and apply for more, you will receive another prefix as well. A publishing company may have an unlimited number of prefixes depending on how many books they publish.
What’s the difference between an ISBN and a barcode?
The ISBN is the number itself that you purchase. The barcode is a computer-scannable image (like a UPC) generated from the number. It can be generated by using a software program or purchased from RR Bowker (www.isbn.org).
If I don’t get an ISBN barcode from RR Bowker, where can I get one?
A printable ISBN barcode file can be obtained free from www.myidentifiers.com/barcode/faqs. You may give that website to your cover designer or submit the information yourself. If you decide to do it yourself, be sure to follow each step on the website carefully. When you have completed the process, download the file(s) to your computer) and give the barcode image file to the cover designer to be included on the back cover of the book.
Should I embed the price of my book in the barcode?
Along with the ISBN, the retail price of the book can be embedded in the barcode as well. It is easier for retailers to find the price of your book if it is embedded in the barcode, so the practice is recommended, however it is your option to decide. For additional information on how to format the price of your book, consult www.myidentifiers.com/barcode/faqs.
What do I do once I get my numbers?
After you get your ISBN numbers from Bowker (www.isbn.org), you’ll need to assign an ISBN to your book. Once an ISBN is listed in the Bowker Books in Print database, it cannot be reassigned to any other book title.
Can I use the same ISBN for hardback and paperback versions of the same book?
ISBN rules require you to assign a different ISBN for each different format of the book. A paperback, hardback, and e-book version of the same title must each have their own ISBN. A new edition of a book title must have a new ISBN.
Does the ISBN barcode have to be a certain size?
The ISBN barcode comes in a standard size, but the recommended size is actually a little smaller: 1.75 inches wide by 1 inch high. This size is still scannable by retailers and looks cleaner on the back of a book. The barcode should be placed on the lower right-hand side of the back cover, at least a half-inch from the bottom and spine.
I’ve heard that reviewers and some booksellers can tell if I’m a small publisher by my ISBN number. Is this true and will it affect sales?
ISBNs are coded with a number in what is called the “penultimate block.” If you purchase a block of 10, that number appears as a single digit. A block of 100 is a double digit and blocks of 1,000 show triple digits. By looking at the ISBN, booksellers can see how many ISBN numbers you’ve purchased, and from there figure out how large your publishing house is. However, if your book is well-written, professionally edited and designed, and if it is an interesting subject to readers, it will sell no matter which block you purchased.
What do the numbers in an ISBN mean?
Country Code
Article Identifier
Penultimate Block
Check Digit Price Code
Publisher Prefix
Tip:
Obtaining an ISBN for each of your published works is a detailed process. The information given does not represent all of the requirements necessary. Go to www.isbn.org and follow the steps to apply for your ISBN.
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Anatomy of a Book
When writing your book, keep in mind the proper format in which books commonly appear. Readers are used to seeing parts of a book in a certain order, as outlined below.
Unless you are publishing an exceptionally long book that has a high page count, typically important parts of the book will begin on the right-hand page, leaving the left-hand page blank if need be. Following this protocol makes finding a specific section while flipping through the book easier for the reader.
The standard layout for the interior of a book is:
Frontmatter in this order:
- Half-Title Page (can be eliminated for space issues)
- Complex Title Page (includes subtitles; author’s, illustrator’s, and developmental editor’s names if applicable; publisher’s logo and/or imprint; often mirrors the book’s cover in style and layout)
- Copyright Page, including the following items:
- Publisher Contact Information
- Copyright Year and Author’s Name
- Cover Design Copyright (Depending on your contract with a cover designer, or if you design the cover yourself, this copyright may be different than the book’s text copyright.)
- Cover Designer’s Information
- Standard “All Rights Reserved” Clause (See the copyright page in this book.)
- Photography, Illustration, and/or Graphics Credits (for both interior and exterior graphics)
- Credit for Scripture Quotation
- ISBN and LCCN
- Date of First Printing
- Dedication and/or Acknowledgements Page
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Foreword (usually written by someone else)
- Preface (optional)
Chapters or Sections
Backmatter in this order:
- Conclusion
- Appendix including:
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- About the Author
- How to Order Page
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Eight Things Should You Expect From Your Book Cover Designer
Readers do judge a book by its cover, so it’s important to make your book or e-book stand out. A good book cover designer will create a custom cover for your paperback or hardcover book that will attract readers’ attention and give your book professional credibility.
- Your book cover designer should be able to provide you with a fully custom, professional book cover design that includes the front cover, back cover, and spine for either a paperback or hardcover format of your book.
- If you are planning to publish an e-book, only a front cover design is needed, so you can expect to pay less than you’d pay for a full book cover design.
- For paperback, hardcover or e-books, the design you receive should include multiple concepts and incorporate stock imagery, custom graphics, or feature photos or artwork you provide.
- Chances are good that you may want to fine-tune your cover during the design process. You should be allowed the opportunity to make changes to the color, text, layout or images on your cover, with no hard feelings.
- In case you want to create multiple books or e-books in a series, your book cover designer can create your cover as a template that can be saved and later applied to subsequent books for a discounted price.
- Your book designer should either insert the ISBN and EAN barcode or allow the space for the barcode according to required specifications for book printing.
- The designer should provide the final files for the printer according to the printer’s specifications.
- Images of your cover should be made available to you for an e-book format and for the purpose of promoting your book.
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