How do I get a book printed?
In Store:
- Go to an in-store kiosk and choose a book to print from the more than 3 million titles on our website.
- Tell the Books-on-Demand desk and tell them what you would like to have printed.
- We will provide you with an estimate of when the book will be ready, and how much it will cost.
- Pay for the book.
- We'll call or email you when it's ready (or it may be printing while you wait).
Online:
- Add to your shopping cart.
- Fill in your personal details.
- Click "Print Now".
- We will email you confirmation of your order.
- We will email you when it's ready to pick-up or when it's been shipped.
Self-Publishing:
- Put your book* in two separate files (one for your full colour cover, and one for the black and white interior) in PDF format on a Flash Drive and bring it to the Books-on-Demand section of U of T Bookstore, St. George Campus. (For more information on electronic formatting for Books-on-Demand, see insert url here)
- Pay for the number of copies you'd like.
- We'll call or email you when it's ready (or it may be printed while you wait).
- Pick-up or have your book shipped to you.
*All the information included on your flash drive is solely your property; we will never use it without your permission.
Printing from the University of Toronto Library Catalogue:
- Search library.utoronto.ca - if a book is available for printing it will say Print Now on the individual book details page. Click Print.
- You will be taken to UofTbookstore.com/books-on-demand and fill in your personal details and to see the price (which is based upon the number of pages).
- Click "Print Now".
- We will email you confirmation of your order.
- We will email you when it's ready to pick-up or when it's been shipped.
How long does it take to print my book?
The Books-on-Demand machine takes about 4 to 10 minutes to actually print, bind and trim a book. However, set-up of the files may take longer and completing the full print run required more time. Existing demand also influences delivery time. The BookPOD Coordinator will be able to provide a delivery date when you submit your files or request a quote.
Can I pick-up my book at UTM or UTSC?
Order online and we'll email you when it's ready for pick-up at the Bookstore at your specific campus. Usually within one or two business days.
If I want to publish my own book how do I do it?
Please click here for details on how to self-publish.
What is custom courseware?
Please click here for details about custom courseware.
What is the Espresso Book Machine®?
The Espresso Book Machine® (the "EBM"), which Time Magazine named an "Invention of the Year," provides a revolutionary direct-to-consumer distribution model for books. Put simply, the EBM is an automated book-making machine. The operator selects a title to print, and within a few minutes a book emerges, with a full-color cover, trimmed to an exact size, and indistinguishable from the publisher's version.
Does anyone else in Toronto have the Espresso Book Machine®?
University of Toronto Bookstore has the only machine in Toronto.
What do the books look like?
All EBM books are perfect bound with paperback covers. They may have color interiors or black-and-white interiors, depending on the installation's text printer. The EBM can produce a book of up to 830 pages. The trim size is variable between 4.5" x 5.5" to 8.25" x 10.5" (11.4 x 14.0 to 21.0 x 26.7 cm). Click here for examples.
Is Books-on-Demand environmentally friendly?
Yes. Producing books at point of sale saves tons of CO2 emissions and eliminates returns and the pulping of unwanted books. According to the OECD's 2008 publication Sustainable Development, "Print-on-demand uses an electronic file to produce the book in the country where it is sold, in the exact quantities needed. There is no need to transport the book from one central location, print too many copies 'just in case,' or store copies waiting to be sold (or destroyed)." According to a 2007 survey by the Book Industry Study Group and Green Press Initiative, the book sector emits an average of 8.8 pounds (almost 4 kg) of carbon per book produced.
How do I find a book?
Books are searchable by title, author, keyword, subject area, publisher, and year of publication.
Click here to search for books now!
What are the specifications of a Books-on-Demand book?
- Binding: Perfect-bound, with a full-color paperback cover
- Interior: B&W (color is available at sites with a color text printer)
- Page-Count: 40 to 830 pages
- Trim Size: Infinitely variable between 4.5" x 5.0" to 8.25" x 10.5" (11.4 x 14.0 to 21.0 x 26.7 cm)
I am an author, how much does it cost to print my book on the EBM?
Please click here to find out how you can self-publish.
