Frequently asked questions

Getting started
Question What timescales should I allow for printing my book and can you give me a guide to the processes involved?
Question Do I have to mention the printer's name on the title verso page?
Question Where do I find a barcode?
Question What about copyright?
Question Are you a publishing company?
Files
Question If I want to supply cover files what format should they be in?
Question If I have tried to create my own PDF files can you run a test to check whether they are print ready?
Question What proofs can you supply?
ISBNs
Question Why do I need an ISBN number and where can I get one from?
Question How can I get my book listed on Amazon and other online book stores?
Question Is it true that ISBNs have changed from 10 to 13 digits?
Binding styles
Question Can you explain the different types of cover to bind books?
Question Can you explain the difference between perfect, slot perforated and sewn binding?
Tracking your order
Question How can I check the status of my order?
Question How do I access Press2Book?
Question What should I do if I'm having trouble logging into my account?
Delivery
Question How will my books be packed and delivered?
Getting started
Question What timescales should I allow for printing my book and can you give me a guide to the processes involved?
Once your text has been typset and your cover designed then it takes on average about 3 weeks to delivery of bound books.
Question Why do I need an ISBN number and where can I get one from?
An ISBN is an International Standard Book Number. If you wish to sell your publication through major bookselling chains, or internet booksellers, they will require you to have an ISBN to assist their internal processing and ordering systems.

The ISBN also provides access to Bibliographic Databases such as BookFind Online, which are organised using ISBNs as references. These databases are used by booksellers and libraries to provide information for customers. The ISBN therefore provides access to additional marketing tools which could help sales of your product.

ISBNs can be ordered from the UK ISBN Agency which is the national agency for the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The UK ISBN Agency can be contacted by any of the following:
Tel: +44 (0)870 777 8712 (9:00am - 5:00pm)
Fax: +44 (0)870 777 8714
Email: isbn.agency@nielsen.com
Post: ISBN Agency, 3rd Floor, Midas House, 62 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6LQ, United Kingdom

For further information about ISBNs including costs and how long it takes to obtain an ISBN then please go to www.isbn.nielsenbookdata.co.uk
Question Is it true that ISBNs have changed from 10 to 13 digits?
Yes, all ISBNs on reprints and new titles changed to a 13 digit format on 1 January 2007.
Question How can I get my book listed on Amazon and other online book stores?
For a book to be listed on Amazon UK and other online book stores it needs to be listed at Neilsen Bookdata. They provide a key source of bibliographic data for books published in the UK and internationally that is used by Amazon, W H Smith, Tesco and sales staff at bookshops. When you purchase an ISBN for your book from the UK ISBN Agency, which is part of Neilsen Bookdata, it will automatically be entered on to their database and thus it will be listed on Amazon etc.

For further details about Neilsen Bookdata go to www.nbdrs.com
Question Do I have to mention the printer's name on the title verso page?
The Printer's Imprint Act of 1961 states that books, journals, newspapers, periodicals, and most other matter printed in the UK must bear on the first or last leaf a legible statement of the printer's name and usual place of business (the 'Printer's imprint').

For further information please refer to the Imprint Requirements page on The Publishers Association website: Imprint Requirements
Question Where do I find a barcode?
Part of the cover design service under Author's Choice includes producing a barcode if you require one. Please note that we do not offer this as a stand alone service. You will need to have obtained an ISBN number before your barcode can be made.
Question What about copyright?

Publishers and distributors in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have a legal obligation to send one copy of each of their publications to the Legal Deposit Office of the British Library within one month of publication.

Items published and distributed in the United Kingdom and in Ireland are liable for deposit. The requirement remains, irrespective of the number of copies in a published edition, the price of individual copies, or the size of the publishing body. Items originally published elsewhere but distributed in the United Kingdom and in Ireland are also liable for deposit.

The right of the British Library to receive one copy of every publication distributed in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland is based on the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 and the Irish Copyright Act 1963 (currently being replaced by similar provisions in the Copyright and Related Rights Bill of 1999).

All publications (except newspapers) should be sent to:

Legal Deposit Office
The British Library
Boston Spa
Wetherby
West Yorkshire
LS23 7BY

Tel: +44 (0)1937 546268 (monographs) / 546267 (serials)
Fax: +44 (0)1937-546176
e: legal-deposit-books@bl.uk
e: legal-deposit-serials@bl.uk

Other Legal Deposit libraries

The deposit regulations of the Copyright Acts 1911 and 1963, with slightly different conditions, apply also to the other five legal deposit libraries:

  • the Bodleian Library, Oxford
  • the University Library, Cambridge
  • the National Library of Scotland
  • the Library of Trinity College, Dublin
  • the National Library of Wales

    • These libraries and are entitled to receive, free of charge, and inclusive of postage and packing, a copy of every work published in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

    The Agent for the Legal Deposit Libraries is responsible for acquiring legal deposit material for these libraries. Enquiries about deposit with these libraries should be addressed to:

    Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries
    100 Euston Street
    London
    NW1 2HQ

    t: +44 (0)20 7388 5061
    f: +44 (0)20 7383 3540
    e: cma@cla.ac.uk
    w : www.llgc.org.uk/cla

    Further information can be found on The British Library's website
       
     
    Question Are you a publishing company?
    Biddles is a book manufacturer i.e. we print and bind books.  We are NOT a publisher. Our customers are either self-publishers or established publishers of books, journals and directories.
    Files
    Question If I want to supply cover files what format should they be in?
    Our preferred format for cover files is an application file created in Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress or Photoshop. Please remember to send us any font or image files which should be at least 300 dpi and saved as CMYK. Having application files allows us to easily change spine widths, drop in barcodes etc. on your behalf if required. However we are more than happy to accept a cover file as a print ready PDF. Please note that we are unable to use covers created in Microsoft Publisher.
    Question If I have tried to create my own PDF files can you run a test to check whether they are print ready?
    Yes, we are always very happy to undertake tests as we feel that, not only should it ensure that your job will run smoothly and trouble free, but it contributes greatly to our fund of knowledge and expertise. There is no charge for this.
    Question What proofs can you supply?
    We can supply you with a set of ruled up laser proofs once your text files have been converted to a print ready PDF. These will show you where the text will fall on the page and give you a final chance to check that you are happy with everything.
    Binding styles
    Can you explain the different types of cover to bind books?
    Limp (paperback), cased (hardback) with printed paper case, cased (hardback) with wibalin (cloth), and jacketed.
    Can you explain the difference between perfect, slot perforated and sewn binding?

    Author's Choice offers slotted binding as standard:

    · Perfect (unsewn) binding: adhesive style in which the backs of gathered sections are cut off and the leaves are glued at the binding edge. If the book is to be case bound a lining is also added to the binding edge. This is the most economical form of binding.
    · Slotted binding (sometimes known as notch or burst): adhesive binding in which a series of slots (or notches) are cut into the spine at folding stage to allow the adhesive to penetrate. The book is bound as complete sections, rather than leaves, and is therefore stronger than unsewn binding but cheaper than sewn binding.
    · Sewn binding: after gathering the sections, a sewing machine inserts threads through the spine of each section and then uses further threads to join each section to each other, to form the book block. This is the strongest but most expensive form of binding.
    Ordering
    Question How can I check the status of my order?
    All Author's Choice customers can access our online order management system - Press2Book - which provides unlimited access to your job data so you can monitor progress whenever, and wherever, it suits you.
    Question How do I access Press2Book?
    We'll supply with your unique secure user name and password which will enable you to access Press2Book. In the interests of security, please do not disclose your personal log in details to anyone else. If you haven't received a password and you're an existing Author's Choice customer then please send a password request to press2book@biddles.co.uk
    Question What should I do if I'm having trouble logging into my account?
    Send an e-mail to press2book@biddles.co.uk or call either Nicky Prentis or Jo Palmer on (01553) 764728 for assistance.
    Shipping and delivery
    Question How will my books be packed and delivered?
    Books are usually supplied packed in cartons and the normal weight of each parcel/carton is 10 kg. Deliveries are made via an overnight courier service.