Book Requirements FAQ

Books must be published to existing industry standards. That means your title must have an ISBN and a Bookland EAN bar code with price printed or stickered on the back cover. It must have a spine and the title must be printed on the spine. We are sorry but spiral-bound books will not be considered. Concealed spiral binding is acceptable.

Print-on-demand books will not be accepted because the largest chains will not order them. Please only submit a POD book if you plan to use offset-printing for Biblio's inventory. Indicate as such in your application.

1. How do I obtain an ISBN?
2. What if I hire a printer or another publishing company to print my book and they use their ISBN? Will I be able to submit my title(s) to Biblio Distribution?
3. I recently regained the rights to my title from another publishing company and I have "x" number of books left. I would like to submit the title to Biblio. The books still have the original publisher's logo and ISBN on them. Is that going to be a problem?
4. How do I obtain a Bookland Ean barcode graphic for use when my book is being printed or a sticker if my book is already printed?
5. Will Biblio work with an author whose book was printed with Xlibris or Lightning Source or a similar company?
6. Do you distribute calendars?

1. How Do I Obtain An ISBN?

   To obtain an ISBN, please contact:

   RR Bowker/US ISBN Agency
   121 Chanlon Road
   New Providence NJ 07974
   908-665-6770

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2. What If I Hire A Printer Or Another Publishing Company To Print My Book And They Use Their ISBN? Will I Be Able To Submit My Title(s) To Biblio Distribution?

   We cannot accept a title that has an ISBN that belongs to another company. When this happens, you must obtain a new ISBN. You must have an ISBN prefix that is specific to your company.

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3. I Recently Regained The Rights To My Title From Another Publishing Company And I Have "X" Number Of Books Left. I Would Like To Submit The Title To Biblio. The Books Still Have The Original Publisher’s Logo And ISBN On Them. Is That Going To Be A Problem?

   Yes. This situation is the same as the one described above. You must have an ISBN that is specific to your company.

   • What should I do if this has happened?

     Contact RR Bowker immediately and apply for your own ISBN prefix, which is specific to your company. Once you have received the ISBN you will need to obtain a new Bookland EAN barcode which incorporates your ISBN and the price of the book. You should sticker over the previous ISBN and EAN barcode.

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4. How Do I Obtain A Bookland Ean Barcode Graphic For Use When My Book Is Being Printed Or A Sticker If My Book Is Already Printed?

   Below is just a sampling of the many companies providing this service to small press publishers. Many printers can also provide this service.

   GGX Associates 11 Middle Neck Road Great Neck, NY 11021 515-487-6370	DeColores Enterprises 3640 Coral Gables Drive Dallas, TX 75229 214-902-9010
   Bar Code Graphics 875 N Michigan Ave Suite 2640 Chicago IL 60611 800-662-0701 312-664-0700

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5. Will Biblio work with an author whose book was printed with Xlibris, iUniverse, Publish America, Lightning Source or a similar company?

   Usually the answer would be no for three reasons: 1) those companies usually print POD (print on demand) and for various reasons (listed below) we cannot accept POD titles; 2) often those companies own the ISBN prefix assigned to the book; 3) in the case of Lightning Source, owned by Ingram, it is a conflict to sell a book back to one of our largest accounts.

   Why we cannot accept POD titles: 1) quality issues, 2) they are often listed as non-returnable, 3) our major accounts have told us they will not buy POD from us, 4) stock quantity issues, and 5) often they are printed under the POD company's ISBN prefix.

   POD can be a good way to test market your books and then when you are ready to move to offset printing and apply to Biblio Distribution.

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6. Do you distribute calendars?

   No, we do not, but Ingram or Baker & Taylor may be able to recommend a distributor that does.

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