publishing resources for indie authors and publishers
A book’s copyright page and back cover display critical information that helps booksellers and libraries position and purchase your book, as well as official notifications that protect your rights as an author or publisher. It is also important to respect copyrights for works used within your book, seeking legal permission when required. Links to the official vendor and government sites are provided below, as well as other useful industry resources.
1. ISBN | Bowker
The first step in protecting and marketing your book is to order an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) for each edition. You will need this number for the book’s copyright page. It is also used, plus the book’s price, to create the barcode for the cover. As Bowker puts it: “The ISBN is the most important identifier your book can have. As the official ISBN Agency for the United States and its territories, Bowker provides identifiers that help authors get their books discovered. ISBNs provide unique identification for books and simplify the distribution of your books throughout the global supply chain. Without an ISBN, your book will not be found in most bookstores, either online, or down the street from your house.”
things to keep in mind:
Hardcover and paperback are considered separate editions of a printed title. A separate ISBN for the digital edition is needed. Do your best to anticipate the separate editions you will publish and purchase the ISBNs your title will need.
In order to generate a barcode preferred by booksellers and distributors, you will need the thirteen-digit ISBN for the edition AND its U.S. retail price in hand. These are the numbers incorporated into the barcode that appears on a book’s back cover. Cover designers and some print-on-demand (POD) publishers will be able to generate an appropriate thirteen-digit barcode for you. If not, you can purchase a barcode via Bowker.
2. Library of Congress
A Library of Congress catalog control number (LCCN) is a unique identification number that the Library of Congress assigns to the catalog record created for each book in its cataloged collections. Librarians use it to locate a specific Library of Congress catalog record in the national databases and to order catalog cards from the Library of Congress or from commercial suppliers. The LCCN is added to the copyright page. Be sure to follow instructions for self-publishing authors.
The evaluations and assignment process typically takes one to two weeks, sometimes longer if there is a backlog. Plan accordingly so the LCCN can be included on the copyright page.
There is no cost for securing an LCCN with the Library of Congress.
3. U.S. Copyright Office
It is advisable to submit a copyright application to protect your title from unauthorized duplication and piracy. It is possible to get by without registering with the U.S. Copyright office per this December 2020 posting from a reputable printer. Even so, if you want to definitively dot I’s and cross T’s, consider registering your own work with the U.S. Copyright Office. Note that you only have 3 months to register your copyright once your work is 1. Published/Distributed, and 2. before infringement occurs, to recover full damages and attorney fees.
U.S. Copyright Office processing fees will apply.
4. BISAC Subject Headings & Codes
The Book Industry Study Group maintains a list of subject categories called BISAC Subject Codes. The nine-digit codes and headings help book industry trading partners when purchasing, selling and categorizing titles for sale. Some booksellers will not carry a title unless subject categories are included on the back cover and/or included the book's publishing data. For example, Lightning Source and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing both require subject categories when setting up a title with their services. Without this, the services will have difficulty in distributing the book.
Take the time to select up to four categories and be as specific as you can. The specificity will help with Amazon, as well as other distribution and sales channels, placing your book in the most likely categories readers and buyers will see when searching. The subject categories along with the key words you'll be providing for your book's metadata are combined by Amazon in their own categorization algorithms.
For example, two BISAC Subject Headings / Codes may apply to an espionage novel. The Subject Codes are used by distributors and online booksellers for placement. Subject categories printed on a book’s back cover help booksellers place your book in the correct location, be it a physical bookshelf or a catalog.
Potential BISAC Subject Headings and Codes for a spy novel:
FIC006000 FICTION / Thrillers / Espionage
FIC022080 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / International Crime & Mystery
Potential Subject Categories for placement on the novel’s back cover:
Fiction / Thrillers / Espionage
There is no cost associated with choosing or using BISAC Subject Codes.
5. Fair Use & Permissions
Before your book moves out of the writing and editing phase, be certain you do not require explicit, legal permission from a work’s creator or owner for content that is quoted, excerpted, or reproduced in your book, be it written or visual. The copyright owner can be the creator, an estate, an agency, a foundation, or another entity that holds the rights to a work’s use.
A well-thought-out primer on what is within public domain guidelines, what constitutes “fair use,” and what kinds of works require explicit permission for their use can be found here. Jane Friedman’s article is brimming with good information and links to in-depth resources.
■ “A Writer’s Guide to Fair Use and Permissions + Sample Permissions Letter” by Jane Friedman.
This is one area where you are better off safe than sorry. Be forewarned that sometimes usage may be refused for a lyric or quote or graphic by the copyright owner, or you may not be able to obtain permission in time for publication. Better to know this before your book is typeset in pages in case passages need to be rewritten, or before risking a lawsuit for copyright infringement after publication. Reprinting can be a significant expense, as is a lawsuit once a book is published.
Depending upon the number and type of credit lines / permissions statements required, you may need specific permissions language to be added to the book’s copyright page, or a dedicated section at the end of the book.