Help

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a controlled, 10- or 13-digit identification number allowing publishers, libraries, and book dealers to locate books. If you received an ISBN from Lulu the ISBN will include Lulu's prefix and Lulu will be listed as the publisher of record. If you assigned an ISBN that you own to the project, your publisher info will be listed. For more information on the history and purpose of ISBNs, see http://www.isbn.org.

An ISBN is not needed to publish on Lulu (Lulu ISBNs are available for free in the Lulu Publishing Wizard). An ISBN is needed to have a book distributed outside of Lulu and entered into the book industry commerce chain. Each version of a book — paperback, hardcover, second edition — must have a different ISBN. A unique ISBN distinguishes between different versions of a book, helping customers to be sure that they are ordering the book they want. For information on how to obtain an ISBN, see the How to get an ISBN for a book.

ISBNs are not for CDs, DVDs, calendars, or periodical publications (magazine, etc.). For more information, see Can I get an ISBN for my CD, DVD, calendar, or periodical publication (magazine, etc.)?

Last updated: 2009-11-18 09:50:39 | Back to top

Yes, you can get an ISBN from Lulu for free in the Lulu Publishing Wizard. You will need to purchase a Distribution package to have your ISBN submitted to Bowker's Books in Print and Nielsen Book Data (ISBN agencies).

Last updated: 2009-11-18 09:48:37 | Back to top

In order to offer your book on sites other than Lulu you will need an ISBN and a Distribution package. Lulu offers ISBNs in the Lulu Publishing Wizard. Distribution packages are available after publishing your book in your Project List. These distribution packages offer different ways to get your book out to the public. This tutorial will help you get your book ready for publishing on Lulu and make your book distribution ready. When publishing your book, click the blue Help button or the 'View instructions and info about this step' link at the top of each step for more information.

1. Decide the distribution, size and binding type you would like based on the options in the distribution eligibility chart.
2. Click on the 'Publish' Tab. Click the 'Self-Publish a...' button and select Paperback books or Hardcover books.
3. On the 'Start a New Project' page enter a title and author name for your book. Select the 'Make it public and assign an ISBN to your title to sell your book in online bookstores like Amazon as well as the Lulu Marketplace' option. Click the 'Save & Continue' button.
4. Select the size and binding options that you decided on in the first step. Greyed out options are not available based on previous choices and unavailability for Distribution. Click the 'Save & Continue' button to move on to the next step.
5. If you want a Lulu ISBN, click on the 'Get a free ISBN from Lulu.com' option. If you have an ISBN you purchased elsewhere click on the 'Add an ISBN you already own' option and fill out your ISBN information. Click 'Save & Continue'.
6. A page with information about what to do with your ISBN and a download-able barcode for one-piece covers will display. Click 'Save & Continue'.
7. Create or edit your manuscript following the Mandatory Distribution Requirements. You can download templates for your manuscript here. Make sure to download a template for the size you chose in steps 1 and 4.
8. Now you are going to upload the file from step 7. After uploading the file click 'Make Print-ready File'. If you upload a Word document, it will be converted into a PDF/print-ready file. If you upload a PDF we will do a basic check to make sure it is the correct size and number of pages.
9. Click the 'Download & Review' button to see that your document was converted properly and that it looks the way it should. Click the 'Save & Continue' button to move on to the cover creator step.
10. Follow the 'Requirements for all book covers' section of the Mandatory Distribution Requirements and the Book Covers FAQ. If you are making a "one-piece cover" you will need to put a barcode on your cover, see "Will Lulu add a barcode to my cover?".
11. If you created images for your front and back cover separately, upload your images and click the 'Make Print-Ready Cover' button, then click 'Save & Continue'. If you created a one-piece cover, click the 'One-Piece Cover (advanced)' button, upload your cover there, and click the 'Save & Continue' button.
12. This step is for describing your book to the public. For Distribution, the book description, author, and title must use a Latin character set. Click 'Save & Continue'.
13. Pricing for distribution requires pricing for the retail markets. Read up on pricing in 'What are the differences among the Lulu price, the retail price, and the wholesale price?'. Click 'Review Project'. Retail price and creator revenue calculator
14. In the 'Review Your Project' step, make sure to look over everything to verify it looks the way you want it to. If anything needs revising click the 'Change' button in that section. Click 'Save & Finish' to publish your book.
15. Congratulations! You are a published author! On this page you are given options for what to do now that you are finished publishing your book. Click the 'View My Projects' button.
16. On the My Projects page click the 'Purchase a distribution package.' link next to your newly published book. Review the information on the different Distribution packages and then click the 'Buy Now' button for the package you want.
17. On the Distribution Book Requirements page read over the Requirements and click the 'Accept requirements and continue' button. On the License Agreement page read over the License and click the 'Accept agreement and continue' button.
18. Purchase your distribution service.
19. See 'How does the distribution process work?' for what to do now.

Last updated: 2009-11-18 09:47:14 | Back to top

ISBNs are only for books and are not available for CDs, DVDs or calendars or periodical publications.

If you are publishing a recurring product (for example, a monthly literary journal), you need an ISSN (International Standard Serial Number). ISSNs are free! An ISSN is an eight-digit number that uniquely identifies your periodical. Unlike ISBNs, which contain country and publisher prefixes, the ISSN simply identifies the periodical (not the publisher from whom it is available).

An ISSN distinguishes a particular periodical from others with which it might be confused. The ISSN also helps library patrons, libraries, and others who handle large numbers of periodicals to find and identify titles in automated systems more quickly and easily. In the US, ISSNs are administered by the National Serials Data Program (NSDP) of the Library of Congress.

A separate ISSN is required for each medium; that is, if your periodical is available in both Download and Print formats, you will need a separate ISSN for each distribution format. After you get your ISSN, you should add it to your periodical. Unlike ISBNs, where Lulu adds the barcode to your back cover, ISSNs are your responsibility. Insert the ISSN in your source file before uploading and publishing.

Last updated: 2009-11-18 09:47:19 | Back to top

You can revise your book as long as it stays within the specifications for distribution. After your book is published and approved, you might find errors that you need to change. In many cases, you can change the book (re-publish it) without losing the ISBN. This depends on the type of changes you want to make and which service you purchased. In order to keep your ISBN

• You cannot change the title.
• You cannot change the binding type.
• You cannot change the trim size.
• You cannot change the interior color.

If the changes you are making would be considered a new edition of the title then you need to create a new project and have a new ISBN assigned to that book. If you make the following types of major changes, it is considered a new edition:

• Adding, removing or moving text
• Adding or removing chapters or an index
• Changing the sequence of chapters
• Dramatically changing your cover design

PLEASE NOTE - IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE YOUR BOOK'S INFORMATION CHANGES WITH BOOKSELLERS AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN. LULU CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REVISED DATA NOT BEING ADOPTED OR CORRECTED WITHIN THE BOOK INDUSTRY.

Last updated: 2009-11-18 09:51:28 | Back to top

No. You must purchase a new ISBN for other projects.

Last updated: 2009-11-18 09:51:25 | Back to top

• Lulu offers ISBNs for free in the Lulu publishing Wizard, find out more here.
• Lulu offers a Service where we purchase an ISBN for you (US residents), find out more here.
• Any U.S. resident can purchase an ISBN for their book at myidentifiers.com. Purchasing one of these ISBNs would make you the publisher of your book.
  • Go to myidentifiers.com.
  • Click on the ISBN Numbers tab next to the Home tab.
  • Select the ISBN package you would like to purchase.

Last updated: 2009-11-18 09:48:23 | Back to top

By assigning a Lulu ISBN to your title you are agreeing to the terms below:

1. You are granting publishing rights to Lulu to act as a publisher on your behalf to retailers and wholesalers globally.
2. Purchasing an ISBN through Lulu is non-refundable.
3. Lulu will assign an ISBN to the title and Lulu.com will be listed as the publisher in all bibliographic feeds.
4. Lulu will be the sole source of bibliographic data on your book. Lulu will feed data to the U.S. ISBN Agency as well as to Bowker's Books In Print ® and other industry databases. The data will identify Lulu.com as the publisher.
5. You accept that Lulu.com is the publisher of record and that any creator revenue you earn through this ISBN meets the true & legal definition of the term 'royalty'.
6. You accept that Lulu.com as the publisher is legally obligated to report any royalties that you earn through this ISBN to the United States IRS under the following conditions: For domestic US individuals or business entities, ALL royalties that you earn through this ISBN regardless of their ship-to address or final destination must be reported. For Non-Resident Alien individuals or business entities any royalties that you earn through this ISBN which are shipped to a US address will be considered US Sourced Income and must be reported.
7. You agree to provide Lulu.com with your complete tax information to facilitate the tax reporting mentioned in point 5 of this agreement. You also agree that if you do not provide this completed tax documentation, the royalties that you earn through this ISBN will be subject to backup withholding.
   
   Specifically:
   Domestic US individuals or entities must provide a completed, signed W-9 form with a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN for businesses). If a domestic US individual or entity has a valid W-9 form on file with Lulu then there will be no withholding tax deducted from the royalties that you earn through this ISBN. If a domestic US individual or entity does NOT have a valid W-9 form on file with Lulu then the royalties that you earn through this ISBN will be subject to the default backup withholding rate for domestic entities (currently 28%).
   
   Non-Resident Alien individuals or entities must provide a completed, signed W-8BEN form with a valid Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN for businesses). If a Non-Resident Alien individual or entity has a valid W-8BEN form on file with Lulu then US Sourced royalties that you earn through this ISBN will be subject to the withholding tax rate specified in the taxation treaty between the US and the country you specify on line 9A of your W-8BEN form, if such a treaty exists. If a Non-Resident Alien individual or entity does NOT have a valid W-8BEN form on file with Lulu then the US Sourced royalties that you earn through this ISBN will be subject to the default backup withholding rate for Non-Resident Alien entities (currently 30%). Any US taxation treaty that specifically addresses, is documented, and directly conflicts with this structure will supersede these general rules.

Last updated: 2009-11-18 09:47:43 | Back to top

By assigning your own ISBN to your title you are agreeing to the terms below:

1. By assigning your ISBN, you acknowledge that you have reviewed and agree to the U.S. ISBN Agency terms and conditions listed below
2. An ISBN will be assigned to this title and the publisher name that you have provided will be listed as the publisher in all bibliographic feeds.
3. Lulu will function as an agent providing distribution services.
4. You will be responsible for any orders you place or cause to be placed with retailers for this title.
5. You may request your book be removed from distribution at any time. After such request, Lulu will start the process of withdrawing your book from availability in retail channels. It may take 6-8 weeks or longer for your listing to be completely removed. In certain channels, removal of your title may not be possible.
6. Lulu, on behalf of you, the publisher, will be the sole source of bibliographic data on your book. Lulu will feed data to the U.S. ISBN Agency as well as to Bowker's Books In Print ® and other industry databases. The data will identify you as the publisher.
7. You agree to purchase a copy of your book for review prior to approving the first copy as well as any future revised copies.
8. You agree to set your Lulu Marketplace price equal to or greater than your Lulu Retail price.
9. You may not make available to the public a duplicate project with a lower Lulu Marketplace price while the original is active in Distribution.
10. Your book's initial Retail Royalty will be set at approximately $4.00; you may change this at any time prior to approving the book.
11. You accept that any changes made to the book or the book data after approving it for global distribution may incur a revision fee. You will not be allowed to make changes before purchasing this revision.

U.S. ISBN Agency's (R.R. Bowker ®) Terms and Conditions

Current as of July 1, 2006

R.R. BOWKER, THE UNITED STATES ISBN AGENCY

ISBN TERMS AND CONDITIONS

R.R. Bowker LLC ("Bowker"), a Delaware limited liability company, is the exclusive ISBN Registration Agency for the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico. Operating under a grant from the International ISBN Agency, Bowker has the exclusive right to assign ISBN prefixes and ISBNs to publishers located in the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.

By registering with Bowker and completing an ISBN Application, Registrant agrees as follows:

1. Registrant hereby certifies that it is a publisher. A publisher is a person or firm whose business is the publishing of books or other publications to which an ISBN can be assigned, and includes e-book publishers, audio cassette and video producers, software producers and museums and associations with publishing programs.
2. Registrant will only assign ISBNs to publications to which it holds publishing rights.
3. Registrant will not sell, license, distribute, disseminate, assign or otherwise make its assigned ISBN prefix and ISBNs available to other publishers or to any third parties.
4. Registrant agrees to follow the International ISBN Standards for use of ISBNs. The International ISBN Standards are available at the US ISBN Agency website located at http://www.isbn.org and at the International ISBN website located at http://www.isbn-international.org.

By issuing ISBN prefixes and ISBNs to Registrant, Bowker agrees as follows:

1. Bowker hereby warrants that it has the full right, power and authority to assign ISBN prefixes and ISBNs to publishers located in the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.
2. Bowker hereby warrants that the ISBNs it assigns to Registrant will conform to current International ISBN Agency and International Standards Organization ("ISO") specifications and are fit for the particular purpose of identifying publications pursuant to the recognized ISO standard.
3. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, BOWKER MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.
4. BOWKER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO REGISTRANT FOR ANY LOSS OR INJURY RESULTING FROM ANY USE OF ISBN PREFIXES OR ISBNS BY REGISTRANT OR OTHER PARTIES. BOWKER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO REGISTRANT FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARE FORESEEABLE, WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARE DEEMED TO RESULT FROM THE FAILURE OR INADEQUACY OF ANY EXCLUSIVE OR OTHER REMEDY OR WHETHER BOWKER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Please contact the US ISBN Agency at isbn-san@bowker.com if you have questions about these terms and conditions or the ISBN standards.

These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey excluding its conflicts of laws principles. The venue for any litigation arising out of these terms and conditions shall be the state or federal courts located within the State of New Jersey, U.S.A.

Last updated: 2009-11-18 09:48:18 | Back to top