Our industry guides give details of sources to check for suppliers, competitors, the market and news on your chosen area of business. Each guide includes lists of both printed and Internet sources. Most of the printed sources can be accessed at the British Library - some shelfmarks appear in brackets after the title entry, please refer to the Integrated Catalogue for full details. Some items may also be held in your local public library.
Directories
Directory of UK & Irish Book Publishers (The Booksellers Association of the UK and Ireland) [(B) DIR 070.5 BUS]
Full details of UK and Irish book publishers, including trade terms, personnel, details for ordering etc.Includes index of imprints, distributors, agents and ISBN prefixes. Also includes details of useful organisations.
Booksellers Association Members: the Essential Guide to the Bookshops of the UK and Ireland (The Booksellers Association of the UK & Ireland) [(B) DIR 070.502541 BUS]
Geographical listing of each member’s shop, including services, stock range and goods sold with company and county indexes. Includes manager’s names, VAT numbers, websites and head office details.
Publishers’ International ISBN Directory (Continuum / Publishers Association) [Humanities RR: HLQ 338.470705]
Lists publishers and allied services including wholesalers, production & design, editing services etc.
International Literary Market Place (ILMP): the Directory of the International Publishing Industry (Information Today Inc. ) [(B) AA660 BUS] + [Humanities RR: HLQ 338.470705]
International directory of publishers, literary agents, translation agencies, book printers & manufacturers, associations, prizes and events. Listed by country with alphabetical index.
Directory if Publishing United Kingdom & Ireland (Saur) [Humanities RR: HLQ 338.470705]
Lists worldwide publishers contact details with their ISBN prefixes. Also a prefix index.
Books in Print (Bowker) [Humanities RR: HLQ 015.73]
14 volume reference work that lists books currently in print. Includes a publisher directory volume.
Sheppard's Book Dealers in the British Isles (Richard Joseph Publishers) [(B) DIR 381.45002 BUS]
Main reference source for antiquarian and second-hand book dealers in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Ireland It is arranged principally by counties with indexes of cities and towns and of dealers with websites, and by name of business, name of proprietor, and subject speciality. Also has details of trade organisations, reference books and suppliers to the trade.
Small Business Help
COBRA: Complete Reference Advisor
(Fact sheets for small businesses in PDF – available online via electronic resources)
Business Opportunity Profiles:
Bookshop
Book Publisher
Mini Business Opportunity Profiles
Second-Hand Book Website
UK Market Synopses:
Books
The Complete Guide to Starting and Running a Bookshop (Booksellers Association, 2005) [Small Business Help Section]
Background to the world of bookselling, the business of selling books including: buying stock, stock control, marketing, pricing, costs, IT etc
Publishing Law 3rd edition. By Hugh Jones & Christopher Benson (Routledge, 2006) [Small Business Help Section]
Overview of the current legal issues affecting publishing in the UK.
Market Research & Statistics
Bookselling (Key Note, 2008) [(B) MKT 381.450020941 BUS] (Also available online via electronic resources)
Includes market size, industry background, competitor analysis, buying behaviour and current issues in bookselling including online sales. Also forecasts to 2010, major company profiles and consumer attitudes
Book Publishing (Key Note, 2007) [(B) MKT 338.470705 BUS] (Also available online via electronic resources)
Includes market size, industry background, competitor analysis, buying behaviour and current issues in book publishing including academic publishing. Also forecasts to 2010, major company profiles and consumer attitudes
Business Ratio Report: Book Publishers (Key Note, 2008) [(B) MKT 338.43070573 BUS]
Financial profiles of the major UK book publishing companies, including performance analysis. Includes rankings by turnover and many other criteria. It has a brief industry overview in the front.
Financial Survey Report: Book Publishers (Key Note, 2008) [(B) MKT 338.430705 BUS]
Brief financial details of UK book publishing companies. Includes more companies than the Business Ratios, but has last detail about each one.
Books (Mintel Essentials – June 2005) [(B) MKT 338.47000941 BUS]
Survey of the book industry. Covers market size and trends, the supply structure, market segmentation, distribution (retail), consumer and demographic information and forecasts.
Publishing Market Profile: The United Kingdom (Publishers Association / Vista International, 2007) [(B) MKT 381.4507050941 Business]
Detailed overview of the book publishing industry, including educational, academic and trade publishing markets. Includes background research on society, book buyers, schools and libraries. Useful contacts section.
UK Book Publishing Industry Statistics Yearbook (Publishers Association, annual) [(B) MKT 338.470705021]
Market data and statistics on book sales including home and export sales. Details of fiction, nonfiction, childrens, school and academic books.
Book Retailing on the Internet (Keynote, 2004) [(B) MKT 381.450020285467 Business] (Also available online via electronic resources)
Provides a strategic overview of the UK online book market. Covers the consumer market as well as the academic, schools and children's markets. Also looks at Electronic Book Services (or e-books) in the UK. Includes PEST analysis, eight company profiles and forecasts to 2008.
Books and the Consumer: Summary Report on the Findings of the 2005 Survey (Book Marketing Limited, 2006) [(B) MKT 381.450020941 BUS]
Contains brief description of methodology followed by key findings. These include size of consumer market, source of purchase, main categories/genres bought, sex and age of buyers and purchase use. Distinction made between adult and children's books.
GPI: Publishing Market Profiles: [various countries] (Publishers Association, 2006) [(B) MKT 381..see Business Information Index for exact location]
Series of reports covering various countries, particularly developing markets such as Pakistan, China, Korea, Thailand, India and the Caribbean. Includes details of the educational markets in each country plus academic & professional and trade markets. Also, useful contacts and statistics.
World Market for Books and Publishing (Euromonitor, 2003) (Available online via electronic resources)
Includes industry and country profiles, including the UK. Books sales by category, major players etc. Euromonitor database also includes profiles of leading publishers and retailers.
Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2005-2009 (PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 2005) [(B) MKT 338.473022 BUS]
Survey of all media channels but includes survey of book publishing globally with regional breakdown.
Books in.. (Euromonitor, 2004-2005) (Available online via electronic resources)
Series covering 8 countries including the UK. Includes overviews and forecasts.
Global Publishing (Datamonitor, 2007) (Available online via electronic resources)
Global market overview of the publishing industry as a whole with profiles of leading players.
Trade Magazines & Newsletters
Antiquarian Book Monthly Review (ABMR, monthly) [Humanities: P.1883/8]
Contains news and features for the book collector.
BML Quarterly Update (Book Marketing Ltd, quarterly) [(P) 338.4707050941 Business]
Data on sales of different types of books, consumer confidence, retail trends, lifestyle, libraries and internet trends.
Bookdealer (Alacrity, weekly) [Humanities: P.1881/6]
Trade publication for second hand and antiquarian book dealers. Includes contact details for dealers as well as trade news and bookseller profiles.
The Bookseller (VNU Business Information, weekly) [Newspaper Library, Colindale]
Weekly news and features on all aspects of the current book trade.
Publisher’s Weekly (Bowker, weekly) [Humanities: P.P.6491.e – current issue on display in Humanities 2]
American weekly trade magazine.
Internet Sources
Publishing & Retailing of new books
Association of Learned & Professional Society Publishers
Information about the association and their research and publications.
Audiobook Publishing Association
Site includes detailed industry figure for the talking book market.
Book Industry Communication
Organisation set up by various bodies, including the British Library, to develop standards for electronic commerce and communication in the book & serials industry. Includes information about ISBNs, digital publishing and industry initiatives.
Book Marketing Ltd.
Publisher of industry newsletters and statistics.
Book Marketing Society
Representative body of marketing within the book industry. Organises events, meetings and awards.
www.bookmarketingsociety.co.uk
The Book Partnership
Set up to support and provide services to independent booksellers, particularly information services.
The Bookseller
Provides news on latest developments in the book business and information on new publications. With daily news and comments combined with special features, author interviews, career advice, recruitment opportunities, interactive forums, bestseller charts and searchable archives. Online version of The Bookseller magazine.
The Booksellers Association of Great Britain & Ireland
Main reperesentative body for book retailers in the UK & Ireland. Access to booksellers & publishers directories and other supplier guides. Also book industry statistics, research and details of events and services offered by the Association.
European Booksellers Federation
Europe-wide federation of booksellers. Site gives details of events.
Independent Publishers Guild
Small publishers association with special groups for academic, children’s and supply chain issues. Details of events and awards and a guide to getting published.
London Book Fair
The UK’s leading book industry event held in April each year. List of exhibitors and details of the International Rights Centre present at each event.
Nielsen Bookdata
Providers of book information to booksellers for publishers. They are the UK agency for allocation International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs).
Publishers Association
Leading trade body for publishers of books, journals and electronic media in the UK. Information on publishing, careers, market information and statistics. Also guidelines for publishers
Antiquarian & Second-hand Books
Antiquarian Booksellers Association
Association of the fine & rare book dealers in the UK.
Provincial Bookfairs Association
Association of book dealers & organisers of bookfairs.
Resources for Booksellers & Book Collectors
Small site with useful resources for 2nd hand book dealers and collectors.
