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FAQs: BowkerLink

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General Questions

What is BowkerLink?
BowkerLink provides publishers with an automated tool to update or add to their title listings in Bowker’s Books In Print and Global Books In Print databases. Publishers may also view and update their publisher contact information.

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Is this absolutely free?
Yes, listing your titles in Books In Print is absolutely free.

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Why should I register with BowkerLink?
The BowkerLink Publisher Access System allows you to communicate your new release titles, as well as price and status updates to a wide audience of book, audio and video buyers. Bowker is the leading provider of bibliographic data and your titles are exposed to many facets of the book industry through this single web application.

Learn more about why you should be using BowkerLink

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I already send my information in an Excel or ONIX file. How can BowkerLink help me?
If you supply title information to Bowker in Excel or ONIX format, you can use BowkerLink to access your listings, check titles, or make up-to-the-minute changes. You can do this online, and you will not need to create a new file or send a full update. Urgent changes to status, price, or title information can be made immediately. (Just ensure that the change also appears in your next file to Bowker, so we don't overwrite your work with incorrect information.) BowkerLink can also be used to enrich your title listings with cover images and descriptions … all at the click of a button!

In addition, stay connected to book buyers, librarians, and Bowker’s retail customers by updating your company information in BowkerLink. You can add website and e-mail information, update your list of distributed clients, or provide contact information to our customers. BowkerLink allows you to update or enhance this information at your convenience.

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If all of my company information is in your Books In Print database, do I need to resubmit it into BowkerLink?
No, you will not need to resubmit your information. BowkerLink is a system used to view, add, or update the information in our Books In Print database.

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I publish too many titles to fill out a form for each, can I send you a file instead?
If you publish over 100 titles a year, Bowker will accept a data feed from your company, as long as it meets the specifications listed here.

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Where can I get bar codes?
Bar codes are available through Bowker's Bar Code Services. Our bar code service is simple, easy-to-use and especially helpful to smaller publishers. You can create and download the bar codes you need, when you need them. Bowker can also provide advice regarding price add-ons, formats, and other bar code-related questions.

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What do I do if I cannot find the answer to my question(s) in the FAQs?
For questions related specifically to BowkerLink, please e-mail bip.bowkerlink@bowker.com.

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