Books and publishing
Cataloguing in Publication (CIP)
What CIP data is, when you need it, and how it reaches your copyright page before you print.
1 min read · Last checked 23 July 2026
What CIP is
Cataloguing in Publication data is a short block of library cataloguing information printed on the copyright page, usually just below the copyright notice. It tells a library how to classify and shelve your book, so it can be added to the catalogue without being catalogued from scratch.
Do you need it?
| Your book is… | CIP |
|---|---|
| Meant to be held by public, school or university libraries | Yes, apply for it |
| Sold in bookshops and online, and you would like libraries to stock it | Recommended |
| A private or strictly commercial run that libraries will not stock | Optional |
If you are unsure, ask before you print. It costs nothing to have it, and a great deal to add it later.
The order matters
CIP data has to appear in the printed book, so it must come back before the book goes to print:
- 1Apply for CIP
- 2Data comes back
- 3Typeset the copyright page
- 4Print
What WBA does
- 1Prepares the application with you, from the details on your title record.
- 2Tracks it until the data comes back.
- 3Stores the returned data on your title record.
- 4Passes it to your typesetter in the right form, so it lands on the copyright page exactly as issued.