This guide is a starting point for library research required for the PUB 371 assignments. 

If you need help, please contact Megan Sorenson, Liaison Librarian for Publishing and the School of Interactive Arts + Technology (SIAT) at 778.782.7588 or msorenso@sfu.ca or Ask a librarian

Contents:

• Finding books and articles 
• Publisher and industry information including bestseller lists
• Publishing and related organizations
• Book contracts
• Citing your sources
   

Finding books and articles

Books

To find books about aspects of the publishing industry, search the SFU catalogue under Subjects such as:

• Book Industries And Trade -- Canada
• Publishers And Publishing -- Canada
• Copyright
• Larger publishing houses might have books written about them; search the catalogue by Subject under their name (e.g. Raincoast or Anansi)

Journal articles and news articles

To find journal articles about aspects of the publishing industry or individual publishers, try one of the following online indexes:

• CBCA Complete: Canadian business, academic and general interest periodicals. Indexes Quill & Quire, which is an important source of Canadian publishing industry news (articles from 1994-2001 are available in full text; for other years, follow the Get@SFU links to request a digital copy via our interlibrary loan system). Sample subjects: Book industry, Books, Publishing industry, Publishers and publishing.
• Publishers Weekly Digital Archive: Key source for for American publishing news and book reviews, which also includes some coverage of the Canadian publishing industry. Contains the full run of Publishers Weekly, including industry articles, book reviews, advertisements, and illustrations, in high resolution and full colour. 
• Proquest Historical Newspapers: Good source for doing historical research on publishing companies, authors and other influential figures in the Canadian publishing world, as well as key events or changes to government policy. Contains articles from the Globe and Mail, Vancouver Sun, and other Canadian and American newspapers as far back as mid-late 19th century (see this list for titles and date ranges covered)
• Business Source Complete major American business index; includes Publishers Weekly. Sample Subjects: Publishers and publishing, Book industries & trade. Can narrow search by Geographic term: Canada

• See also: Start Your Research Here for how to research term papers, including How to Find Journal Articles

   

Publisher and industry information

Publishing Industry Information

• BookNet Canada produces various free and paid reports related to the Canadian publishing industry
• The Historical Perspectives on Canadian Publishing project provides a wealth of case studies related to Canadian publishing, along with digitized media from publishers' and authors' archives at McMaster University Library, Queen's University Archives, and U of T's Thomas Fisher Rare Books Library
• This summary of stakeholder feedback from 2023 Canada Book Fund engagement sessions outlines some of the industry challenges and opportunities identified by publisher and author associations
• Creative BC's overview of the book publishing sector, including links to research and reports
• IBISWorld Industry reports: includes detailed reports on Book Publishing in Canada (2023) and Book Stores in Canada (2024)
• Reading the Tea Leaves:  A Book Sector Profile for British Columbia (2015 report from the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia)
• Check out the "Facts and Data" section of the Publishing Information guide for industry reports and statistics 

Publisher Catalogues

• CataList (BookNet Canada) Canadian publishers and their catalogues
• Canadian Publishers' Catalogues from Northern Lights
• Canadian ISBN Publishers' Directory from Library and Archives Canada
• Francophone titles under Numéro ISBN attribué aux éditeurs francophones canadiens from the Bibliothèque nationale at Archives du Québec.
• See also: a selection of catalogues from Canadian publishers next to the Belzberg Library bound journals.

Bestseller lists

• Amazon.ca Best Sellers
• Weekly BC Bestsellers list (Read Local BC - Association of Book Publishers of BC)
• Bestsellers List (Globe and Mail)
• Booknet Canada's yearly Canadian Book Market report lists annual bestsellers in different categories
• Indie Bookseller's Bestseller List (BookNet Canada and Retail Council of Canada)
• Bestseller lists are often in  weekend editions of newspapers under section Entertainment - Books

Publishing and related organizations

• Books BC (Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia)
  • Read Local BC website: BC book industry news, interviews, lists of literary festivals and BC bookstores
• Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) - represents English-language, Canadian-owned independent book publishers. Their website includes news and events, an overview of the publishing industry, and other resources, such as their 2022 Canadian Book Publishing Industry Diversity Baseline Survey Report
• BookNet Canada "dedicated to innovation in the Canadian book industry supply chain"
• Canadian Publishers Council (CPC) "Canada's main English language book publishing trade association"
• Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA)
• Literary Press Group of Canada (LPG) " foster the survival, growth and maintenance of Canadian owned and operated publishing houses"
• Livres Canada Books (formerly Association for the Export of Canadian Books)
• See also: Associations section of Publishing Information Resources
   

Cultural Policy - Canada

• Canadian Heritage Arts and Culture Includes sections on Books and Magazines, and a list of their Publications
• Canada Book Fund (Heritage Canada): publishing support and business development support for publishers
• Canada Periodical Fund (Heritage Canada)
• Canada Council for the Arts: information for literary publishers
• Creative BC: Book publishing programs
• BC Arts Council provides funding for literary fields of practice (creative writing, storytelling, spoken word, publishing)
• BC Book Publishing tax credit
• Additional provincial funding for BC book and magazine publishers (2023)
   

Cultural Policy - outside of Canada

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport (UK)
• Arts Council England
• Arts Council of Northern Ireland
• Creative Scotland
• Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe Council of Europe
• Literature Australia Council for the Arts
• New Zealand Book Council
• Cultural Policy Database Culturelink (possibly dated)

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Book contracts

• Help yourself to a better contract : a guide for evaluating and negotiating your trade book contract PN 155 H42 2006       
• Model trade book contract PN 155 M63 2001
• Clark's publishing agreements : a book of precedents KD 1340 A65 P8 2007
• Selling rights KD1340 O96 2006
• For more books on authors and contracts, search the SFU catalogue in the PN 155 area.
• See also a Sample Publishing Contract

 
Citing your sources

It's important to cite your sources, so that:

• Your reader can locate the sources you used for your paper
• You give credit to the people whose research and ideas you used in your paper

For help with citing sources according to styles like MLA, APA, or Chicago/Turabian, check out our SFU Library citation guides.

Back to Publishing Information Resources