Publishing Services @ UC Press

Frequently Asked Questions

PUBLISHER OF RECORD

Is Publishing Services @ UC Press the same as UC Press?

No. Publishing Services @ UC Press is a fee-based set of editorial, production, fulfillment, distribution, and consulting services offered by UC Press to help support the publishing activities of university-based publishing programs.

If we use Publishing Services @ UC Press, will our publications be published under the UC Press imprint?

No. These services do not include peer review or board approval and therefore cannot be published under the UC Press imprint. The UC Press logo does not appear on the publication.

What if I want my book published with UC Press?

If you are interested in publishing a book with UC Press, please find the relevant acquisitions editor on our website and contact them to see if your project is a fit for the UC Press list.

If my project is not accepted by UC Press, can I still publish with Publishing Services?

No. Publishing Services @ UC Press does not publish materials. We provide editorial, production, fulfillment, and distribution services for university-based publishing programs. You must be associated with an affiliate that has an MOU for publishing services or a UC faculty or staff member who works with eScholarship. Contact your publications manager, affiliate executive director, or dean to determine if an MOU exists.

Do authors receive contracts from UC Press when they use Publishing Services @ UC Press?

No, the press does not issue an author contract for publishing services work because the books are not published under the press imprint, and the projects and authors are not managed by a sponsoring editor. Instead, publishing services are contracted through an MOU with university affiliates. This MOU outlines the terms of the relationship and what publications are eligible for service.

Does Publishing Services @ UC Press accept unsolicited manuscript submissions?

No. Publishing services is not a publisher. We facilitate access to editorial, production, fulfillment, and distribution services for university-based publishing programs. Books and other publications that we provide services for are published under the university affiliate.

Who owns the copyright for books created or distributed through Publishing Services @ UC Press?

The affiliate, the author, or another entity such as the University of California Regents is the publisher of the work. Neither Publishing Services @ UC Press nor UC Press assumes the role of publisher of the work, and therefore the copyright is not registered in the name of UC Press or Publishing Services @ UC Press.

CONTENT

What types of publications are accepted to Editorial and Production Services?

We provide editorial and production services for all types of publications including scholarly, text, and trade books; conference proceedings; and reports in all disciplines. We can also provide editorial and production support for journals.

What types of publications are accepted to Fulfillment and Distribution Services?

We provide fulfillment and distribution for commercially sold scholarly, text, and trade books; conference proceedings; policy materials; and reports in all disciplines.

Which disciplines does Publishing Services @ UC Press support?

We provide services to all disciplines, including medicine, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; humanities; business; and social sciences.

Why would a UC affiliate use Publishing Services @ UC Press?

A university affiliate might use Publishing Services @ UC Press if they already have a publishing program, but they need support with production management or the distribution of their publications. Or they might have a publication manager but have gaps in their workflow that Publishing Services can help fill in.

Are publications reviewed by UC Press as part of the publishing process?

No, Publishing Services publications are not peer reviewed by UC Press, nor are they evaluated by the UC Press Editorial Committee or a sponsoring editor. The project manager for publishing services has the right to pass on publications that are outside the scope of the MOU, or that cannot be completed by an agreed-upon deadline.

Can I submit a draft or partial manuscript?

No. Manuscripts requiring editorial and production services must be complete and final prior to submission. After the requested service is completed, you will have an opportunity to review work and request one round of revisions.

Will publications that include authors and contributors from outside UC be accepted?

Yes, authors from outside UC may be included, provided that the lead author/editor is from a UC campus or affiliate and the affiliate approves the project for services.

Can I get help with securing permissions for external content in my manuscript?

No, editorial and production services do not include reviewing or securing permissions. External permissions for content included in the manuscript are the responsibility of the university affiliate and their authors/editors.

Can you help with accessibility requirements?

Yes. Accessibility is an essential part of today’s book publication process, and it is strongly recommended that affiliates ensure publications are accessibility-ready. We provide best practice information guides for affiliates to share with authors and editors. Our designers and typesetters prepare files that comply with WCAG requirements. Alt text creation is one of our fee-based services available, but it is recommended that you encourage your author to create the alt text during the writing process.

COSTS

What is an MOU?

A Memo of Understanding (MOU) is a document that the press uses to outline the services and terms of the agreement that it will provide to the affiliate and the individuals responsible for the relationship. MOUs for fulfillment and distribution begin with an initial three-year term and can be renewed. MOUs for editorial and production will outline the services that are available with baseline pricing. MOUs must be signed by the executive director and the business manager of the affiliate organization.

What are the costs for Editorial and Production Services?

Publishing Services @ UC Press aims to keep costs as low as possible. We do not have a published rate sheet by publication; rather, baseline costs are detailed in the Memo of Understanding (MOU). Additionally a budget is prepared per project before any services begin. Services are modular, so select just the services you need or combine services to develop an entire publishing workflow. For editorial and production, budgets are created based on the length and complexity of the project. Descriptions of complexity categories are found on the Editorial and Production page.

Do costs change from project to project?

Yes, costs are based on length and complexity. Affiliates benefit from UC Press’s longstanding relationships with vendors to ensure competitive rates for packagers, printers, and distributors. Our volume helps to keep pricing low, but when market costs for paper, labor, and freight fluctuate, our vendor pricing may change, and these changes may be passed along to you with prior notice.

When are printing costs paid?

Printing costs that are not part of fulfillment and distribution are billed at the time of printing. Copies are shipped to one or more locations of your choice. If you are using our distribution services, publications are set up as print-on-demand, meaning copies are printed when orders are placed. In this case, print costs are deducted from net sales revenue, which is calculated on a calendar year basis and paid to affiliates annually in the spring.

What are the costs for Fulfillment and Distribution Services?

Fulfillment and Distribution operates using a revenue-share model. An affiliate setup fee is assessed based on the number of titles distributed. If files were not created by Publishing Services @ UC Press, files will be reviewed to ensure that the print file meets the required specifications for print-on-demand. For instance, the spine width may need to be changed if the weight of the paper changes from the original printing. We will provide templates for you to create new print-on-demand–ready files, or we can handle the remediation for a fee.

DISTRIBUTION

What formats can be included in Fulfillment and Distribution Services?

New and previously published paperback, hardcover, and jacketed books and web PDF and EPUB formats that are commercially sold can be managed through Fulfillment and Distribution Services.

Will publications appear on the UC Press website?

All commercially sold publications included in the distribution services appear on the UC Press website. Publications that use editorial and production services do not appear on the UC Press website unless they are also part of a Fulfillment and Distribution Services MOU.

Who assigns ISBNs?

Affiliates are not required to use UC Press ISBNs. If you have already assigned an ISBN to a project, we will use that one. If an affiliate does not have their own ISBN block, we will assign an ISBN at the time of publication.

What if we don’t have access to our files?

Our editorial and production offerings include scanning services if you no longer have access to print files. Titles previously put out of print can be reissued in their original formats, new formats (perhaps lower-cost paperback), or digital formats, which may create new sales opportunities and revenue for you.

Can we transfer previously printed inventory to your warehouse?

No. Because we use print-on-demand, we do not accept previously printed inventory. Print-on-demand reduces overprinting and storage fees and increases the availability of publications with our retail and wholesale partners, especially for monographs and older publications. The program manager can help you develop a plan to manage unsold inventory prior to your transition to the distribution cutover date.

OPEN ACCESS

Can we publish in open access and still use Publishing Services @ UC Press?

Yes! We can provide editorial and production services for publications intended for open access. We also offer fulfillment and distribution for affiliates that want to sell a print or digital version in addition to open access. If your intention is to use eScholarship for open access publishing, please contact them prior to reaching out to us.

MARKETING

What marketing and publicity services are provided by UC Press?

We do not market or publicize publications created or distributed through Publishing Services @ UC Press.

Who markets my book?

All marketing and publicity efforts including but not limited to advertising, conference attendance, award submission, coordination and scheduling of author events, media and review copy mailings, and media pitches are the sole responsibility of the university affiliate and their authors.

JOURNALS

What services do you provide for journals?

Publishing Services @ UC Press offers editorial and production services for journals that have their own publication and fulfillment strategy. Open access journal services are available through eScholarship. UC Press also offers publishing management and fulfillment for journals with print and digital subscriptions. To find out more information about journals published by UC Press, reach out directly to the journals department at UC Press.