From: Norma Jean <nsawicki>
Date: Tue, 04 May 2004 15:25:26 -0500

As a former publisher of children's books, I remember only too well the ruckus regarding the inclusion of the CIP data on the copyright page of children's books. When the policy was first initiated, publishers worried that the Library of Congress would not have the necessary staff to prepare the CIP data in a timely fashion, and production schedules could be held up while waiting for the information. Many publishers were against the new policy but some librarians threatened to start a movement whereby books that did not include the CIP date would not be purchased. The folk at the Library of Congress said they had the appropriate staff, which they did not, and through the years there were many glitches along the way. Assistants who worked with me were often on the phone with the Library of Congress begging/pleading for the CIP data, and I am sure that was true of staff in other houses; the lead time to submit material became longer and longer. That this program is not working is not a surprise to me; at the time, few publishers expected it would. While I cannot speak for publishers, I think it unlikely they would be willing/interested in preparing CIP summaries for the books they publish. Not only do they not have the skill/knowledge to prepare it as a librarian would, they do not have the time, nor is it a publisher's responsibility. To my way of thinking, it was not a good idea from the start. Norma Jean
Received on Tue 04 May 2004 03:25:26 PM CDT