Publisher

Definition

An entity responsible for making the resource available: the publisher of the original work.

Where Can the Publisher Information be Found?

  • A publisher can be a publishing house, an organization, a service, a corporate body, a government agency, a museum, a historical society, a university, a project, a repository, a person, etc. and may be found on:

    • a copyright page

    • an inside cover of a book

    • a colophon

    • a logo stamped on a photograph, map, or cover of a book

    • accompanying or supplementary information

How Publisher Works in the Metadata Form

Screenshot of publisher element in metadata editing system.
Parts:

  1. Publisher name – text field

  2. Publisher location – text field

  3. Publisher information – text field

Repeatable?

Yes - to include multiple publishers, click ‘Add’ to repeat all field parts

Required?

No (more information)

How Should the Publisher be Filled in?

General Publisher Rules

  • If no publisher statement is present on the resource or its documentation, leave the field blank

  • When relevant, multiple publishers can be included, but it may be appropriate for a second publisher to be listed as a contributor instead (for example, a “printer” or “distributor”)

Publisher Names

Guideline

Examples

United States. Government Printing Office.

  • If no authorized version is available, enter the most complete version of the name that is known using proper formatting:

  • Do not invert names of individuals (for self-publishing)

Roberta Wright Rylander

For non-government or single-level bodies:

  • Use the name as it appears in the item

Lewis Publishing Company

  • Do not invert personal names that are parts of organizational names

    1. Baldwin & Sons

  • Put [square brackets] around publisher names if it is important to clarify components that do not come from the resource itself

[Houston] Chamber of Commerce

  • Write out names rather than using acronyms
Name: University of North Texas
Info: UNT

For hierarchical agencies or entities:

  • List agency or body parts in hierarchical order, starting at the highest level and ending with the most specific

Fort Wolters (Tex.). United States Army Primary Helicopter School.

  • Separate the elements of the hierarchy with periods

American Chemical Society. Division of Chemical Information.

  • Preface the name of government agencies with the name of the country or state

Texas. Legislature. Senate. Committee on Transportation.

  • If a hierarchy is unclear, record the name as it appears on the item

For United States agencies:

  • Spell out “United States” unless there is an authorized version that abbreviates it

  • [United States.] Army Information Branch.

  • United States. Department of Commerce. Office of Technical Services.

  • In the case of a long (well-known) name, it may be shortened by eliminating unnecessary parts

    • For example, the Library of Congress Authorities often omit upper-level intermediary divisions, such as the secondary level in “United States. National Security Council. Central Intelligence Agency.”

United States. Central Intelligence Agency.

For non-U.S. agencies:

  • When using an authorized form of the name, it may be appropriate to add notes to the “info” section:

    • If the name is written in a language other than English, add the English translation (if known)

    • If the name is written in English, additional forms from the item may be added
Name: Japan. Kankyōshō.
Info: [Japan] Ministry of the Environment

China (Republic : 1949- ). Huan jing bao hu shu.

  • If there is no authorized form, follow general formatting rules

Publisher Location

Guideline

Examples

  • Enter the place of publication listed on the resource

  • Write out city and state names
Sewanee, Tennessee
Austin, Texas

  • If multiple places are associated with the publisher, use the first place listed

London, England

  • If no place of publication is listed:

    • Leave the location blank

    • A less specific location (e.g., country or state only) may be used if it can be reasonably inferred
United States
Idaho

  • Put the place of publication in [square brackets] if it is known but not listed on the item

[Washington D.C.]

Publisher Info

  • Info is not required as part of the publisher entry

  • This field is only for information about the publisher listed in or directly related to the object

  • It is not necessary to do research to find information; this field is only used for readily-available notes

Guideline

Examples

  • Include other relevant information known about the publisher that relates to the object, such as:

    • Additional forms of the publisher’s name

    • Dates of existence

    • Other/multiple locations listed for a company

    • A publishing statement printed in the resource

Raphael Tuck & Sons Co., Ltd.

“A Multipro Reprint”

Printed by The Bandera Bulletin for Frontier Times Museum

Other Examples:

Children’s book: More Fun For Everyone

  • Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons

  • Location: London, England

  • Information: “London, Paris & New York. Designed at the Studios in England and printed at the Fine Art Works in Bavaria.”

Photo-journal: A Camera Trip Through Camp Wolters: a picture book of the camp and its activities

  • Publisher: The Ullman Company

  • Location: Brooklyn, New York

  • Information: “This book planned and printed in Gravure by the Ullman Company, Brooklyn, N. Y.”

Lion’s Roar, Yearbook of the North Texas Laboratory School, 1958

  • Publisher: North Texas Laboratory School

  • Location: Denton, Texas


  • Publisher: Taylor Publishing Co.

  • Location: Dallas, Texas

  • Information: “Lithographed by Taylor Publishing Co.”

U.S. Geological Survey Map: Locations and Depths of the Artesian Wells of the Black and Grand Prairies of Texas

  • Publisher: A. Hoen & Co.

  • Location: Baltimore, Maryland

  • Information: “Lith. by A Hoen & Co.”

French opera score: Nouvelles Poesies Morales sur Les Plus Beaux Airs de la Musique Francoise et Italienne avec la Basse.[…]

  • Publisher: N. Lottin & J. H. Butard

  • Location: Paris, France

  • Information: “Chez Ph. N. Lottin, & J. H. Butard, Imprimeur - Libraries, rue Saint Jacques, proche de S. Yves, à la Verité”

World War II Poster: This man is your friend: Dutch sailor: he fights for freedom

  • Publisher: United States. Government Printing Office.

  • Location: Washington D.C.

Inventory of county records, Young County courthouse, Graham, Texas

  • Publisher: North Texas State University. Center for Community Services.

  • Location: Denton, Texas


  • Publisher: Texas State Library. Archives Division.

  • Location: Austin, Texas

  • Information: Printer [and distributor]

Pamphlet: An Appeal to the People of Massachusetts, on The Texas Question.

  • Publisher: Charles C. Little and James Brown (Firm)

  • Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Comments

  • Name fields are connected to the UNT Name App, which will try to match text against local authority files. Editors should always choose an authorized form from the list if it is available.

  • If the publisher and the creator are the same, repeat the name in the Creator element.

  • In the case of outsourcing, the name of the contract agency performing digital services for a publisher could be recorded in the Note element.

  • Publishing information about a resource from which the current resource is derived should be placed in the Source element.

  • For place(s) associated with the intellectual content of the resource, use the Coverage Place Name sub-element.

Resources

More Guidelines: