Booksellers Print-to-Order Publishing Program Agreement, FAQ Now Online

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

Booksellers interested in participating in, or learning more about, the Booksellers Print-to-Order (PTO) Publishing Program, launched by the American Booksellers Association and Applewood Books in July, can now find answers to frequently asked questions as well as a letter of agreement on BookWeb.org. Any ABA member bookstore in good standing may participate in the program, which gives independent booksellers the ability to publish any titles in the public domain, or whose rights they have secured from the author, and sell them at margins from 50 to 75 percent.

For each work they wish to publish, booksellers will sign a letter of agreement with Applewood Books and pay an advance fee of $250. Although the co-publishing agreement is between the bookstore and Applewood Books, ABA Chief Program Officer Len Vlahos explained, "To start, ABA will review completed co-publication agreements, so we're asking booksellers to send their signed forms to us, and then ABA will pass them along to Applewood Books."

Works published by the Booksellers PTO Program must be in the public domain or the rights to reprint must have been procured in writing. To prepare a title for printing, Applewood Books will digitize the work; create a cover design (booksellers will be able to choose one of three templated designs at no extra charge or they can provide their own custom, production-ready art); assign an ISBN; provide bibliographic data; approve the title for manufacture; and more. Books to be digitized will not be harmed in the process, and they may include photos. Titles will be printed by Ingram Lightning Source, which was instrumental in facilitating the Bookseller PTO Progam.

Among the key benefits of the program is that participating booksellers will have exclusive access to purchase any of the works that Applewood co-publishes for ABA members via a web portal, which will launch in the coming weeks. Participating booksellers also have the option of allowing Applewood to distribute their works through its worldwide distribution channels. Booksellers who choose this option will be paid a royalty of 7.5 percent of net for any sales made.

Booksellers with questions about any aspect of the Booksellers PTO Program should contact Vlahos at [email protected] or (800) 637-0037, ext. 6650. Signed letters of agreement should be mailed to: Len Vlahos, American Booksellers Association, 200 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591.