Print-on-demand publishing through CreateSpace

From MPublishing

Revision as of 12:49, 28 April 2011

MPublishing operates a robust print-on-demand service that sells high-quality, low-cost reprints of public domain books from Michigan’s digital collections. We have also been experimenting with helping Michigan faculty put their out-of-print books back into print with this service, as well as setting up a few serial publications to be sold as print-on-demand softcover copies.

For these serial publications, MPublishing acts as a broker between CreateSpace, a print-on-demand printer owned by Amazon, and the journal, book series editor, or individual author (the publishing partner). These publications are sold on MPublishing's account with CreateSpace and are submitted to CreateSpace by MPublishing staff with an ISBN assigned (and paid for) by MPublishing.

Do we really need an ISBN if our journal already has an ISSN? Yes. An ISSN is a unique identifier for the journal title. Its use aids in tracking subscriptions. An ISBN is unique identifier for an inventory item, like a book or a journal issue sold individually. While ISSNs are free, ISBNs, unfortunately, cost money.

Items are included in the Amazon catalog, and links are provided from MPublishing's online version to Amazon for any users who wish to purchase a paper copy. In addition, the publishing partner can order copies at manufacturing cost through MPublishing.

Below is a more detailed description of printing capabilities and costs, as well as instructions for MPublishing's publishing partners.

Printing capabilities

CreateSpace can print items in a wide range of trim sizes, subject to minimum and maximum page counts. CreateSpace can print in monochrome or full color, but color costs more (see below).

Sample and complimentary copies

MPublishing can order sample and complimentary copies on behalf of publishing partners at the cost of manufacturing plus shipping.

Revenue model

As in our publishing agreements for POD printing, MPublishing sets the sale price of each item for sale. Publishing partners receive 50% of revenue (not of the total sale price, which includes the cost of manufacture and Amazon's profit).

In the past, MPublishing offered other revenue models to publishing partners. If you have an agreement using one of these models, you'll find separate information for you.

Procedure

Our publishing partners are responsible for providing MPublishing with ready-to-submit files: a print-ready PDF of the cover and one of the interior pages. Here's the procedure:

1. Ask your contact at MPublishing to give you an ISBN for the new issue of the journal. You will need the ISBN in order to name files that you submitted to MPublishing. It is also good practice to include this ISBN somewhere in the book block, such as on the title page verso (with the copyright information). Send your contact the following:
   • title
   • volume number
   • issue number
2. PDF files should be prepared according to CreateSpace specs for interior PDFs and exterior PDFs. Note that CreateSpace provides Microsoft Word templates to help with your typesetting of the interior and a JPEG template for the exterior. MPublishing cannot provide assistance in preparing these files, but MPublishing has a representative at CreateSpace who is happy to be contacted if you have questions about the preparation procedure not explained in the documentation. Your contact at MPublishing can provide you with the contact information for the CreateSpace representative. There are also some helpful resources available from Create Space
3. Send the files to your contact at MPublishing for submission to CreateSpace. These can be sent as email attachments or mailed to MPublishing on disk, or MPublishing can download them through FTP. The files should be named as such (where 978123456789x is the ISBN assigned to the issue by MPublishing):
   • 978123456789x.pdf —the PDF for the interior (the "book block")
   • 978123456789x-cover.pdf — the PDF for the cover
   • 978123456789x-metadata.txt — a text file containing the following:
     • title as it should appear in the Amazon catalog
     • primary author:
       • prefix
       • first name/initial
       • middle name/initial
       • last name/initial
       • suffix
     • short description
     • additional contributors (names broken down as above)
     • subtitle as it should appear in the Amazon catalog (optional)
     • volume number
     • interior style: black & white or full color (Note: covers are always printed in color.)
     • page color: white or off-white
     • trim size (in inches or millimeters)
     • one applicable BISAC subject heading (this refers to a list of subject headings used by booksellers)
     • optional:
       • author biography
       • search keywords (up to five)

   If any sample or complimentary copies are desired, specify the number and whether you require an invoice for this amount.

4. Your contact at MPublishing will set the issue up to be printed and sold. (Note to staff: see node 1145 in the intranet.) If sample or complimentary copies are requested, your contact will calculate the cost and invoice you (if you require it). The amount due may be paid by check (from US banks only), wire transfer, money order, or credit card. Once the invoice is paid, your contact at MPublishing will order the sample or complimentary copies on your behalf.

Once the item is available for sale, MPublishing staff will add a link from MPublishing's online version of the journal content to the item for sale on Amazon.