How to request books on CataList
CataList allows professional readers, like librarians, reviewers, and book retailers who are logged into the system to request advance reading copies of books, otherwise known as ARCs. While CataList hosts the ARC request feature, it is up to the book's publisher to decide whether or not reading copy requests are fulfilled.
What indicates there's an advance copy available?
Advance reading copies (ARCs) are just that; they're books that are publishing in the near (or sometimes very far) future. Though they may not be physically in the market just yet, that doesn't mean the book is completely unavailable. Publishers create ARCs for certain reader groups (such as reviewers, library staff, retailers, etc.) in order to support marketing efforts and build excitement around new books or authors. You'll know if an ARC can be requested when you see the “Request at NetGalley” or “Request an ARC” buttons, which display in several views throughout CataList.
You can request a digital copy by clicking Request at NetGalley, which will take you to NetGalley's galley request service, or you can click Request an ARC, which will open a form that you can submit through CataList directly to the publisher with your request details.
First, let's visit NetGalley.
Click Request at NetGalley and sign into (or sign up for) your NetGalley account. Though CataList supports a direct link to title request pages on NetGalley, they are two distinct services and require separate logins.
How to request ARCs using NetGalley
NetGalley is an online digital galley provider, connecting professional readers (such as library staff, media, bloggers, etc.) with publishers' forthcoming titles for promotional purposes. NetGalley offers free accounts for different types of readers, and after creating your NetGalley account, you too can "read, review, & recommend" all sorts of books (and earn a few badges!). You must fill out the required "bio" and list your favourite genres in order to make requests.
NetGalley lets you search by title or publisher but going through CataList will always bring you directly to the request page for the book in question. All of your requests are stored on your shelf, with their statuses clearly labelled so you can remember which books you've reviewed and given feedback for, and which you still need to follow up on.
Once you are ready to make your query, simply click the "Read Now" button and your request will be sent to the publisher for approval. Like the direct-to-publisher requests made through CataList, all approvals are at the discretion of the publisher.
In some cases, you may see a "Wish for it!" button instead of the usual "Request." This normally means that a publisher is gauging interest or has not made the book available to your account type. By clicking the "Wish for it!" button, you are communicating your interest to the publisher, which never hurts. You will receive an email notification once your request has been answered.
If you run into any trouble, NetGalley has extensive help documentation available and a technical team ready to assist.
How to request ARCs directly from a publisher
CataList offers users an alternate method to request a reading copy, either digital and/or physical.
Click Request an ARC. A form will open asking for basic details, including your format preference, your role at your organization, and a free text box where you can make a case for why a publisher should send you an advance copy of this title.
If you have requested a physical copy, include a complete mailing address, preferably your professional one.
Click Send Request and this information will be transmitted directly to the publisher. You will also receive a copy of the request so that you will be able to follow up directly with the publisher at a later date if needed.
We strongly recommend that you always include your intentions for the book within a professional context, especially if you work within a library system. While loving an author is a wonderful reason for wanting to read their latest novel as soon as possible, if you're not also intending to review, acquire, or evaluate the book (as a potential Loan Stars pick, for instance), it's not a good enough one to receive a free copy.
How to search for forthcoming books
By quick search
The simplest way to find a specific title is by using the quick search box at the top of all CataList pages.
You can search using title, author, ISBN, publication date, format, publisher, catalogue name, or even subject. You will be presented with a list of the relevant results, which you can further narrow by using the filters on the left-hand side.
You can use the drop-down options above the list of results to change the sort order, expand the number of results that return per page, or export your search results to an Excel file. If you want to use the custom catalogue features in CataList to collect and organize titles for future reference, you can also select items and send them to your custom catalogues!
If you'd rather browse for titles, there are several ways to do that as well.
By publisher
If you're interested in discovering a particular publisher's backlist or frontlist, you can search through our publisher list, which includes all publishers/organizations with catalogues published on CataList. This list also includes associated imprints and client publishers that are catalogued.
You will be taken to their publisher page, which includes a complete listing of all their catalogues (organized seasonally and monthly), as well as any social media links, websites, and contact information that have been provided.
By catalogue
Different organizations create different types of catalogues. If you're more interested in finding titles that are produced or represented by a particular organization or are part of a special program, you can browse by catalogue! These catalogues tend to house titles from many different publishers.
You can always see the most recently released catalogues from your home page. You can also see titles that have been added after the catalogues were published and may otherwise have slipped into a pre-existing catalogue unnoticed under "Recent Drop-ins." You can discover what's releasing this week, in upcoming months for all CataList publishers, or click the favourites tab to find new titles and catalogues from your list of favourite publishers. Quick reports can be run by choosing your desired month from the drop-down. The results can then be exported into the format of your choice.
For upcoming titles, the best places to browse are through our NetGalley and Loan Stars catalogues.
Our NetGalley catalogues are updated weekly and list all titles that are available on both CataList and NetGalley.
Loan Stars
Loan Stars is a readers advisory tool that allows library staff across Canada to recommend upcoming titles they deem essential for Canadian library systems. Each month, top 10 list(s) are released and the top picks are added to seasonal catalogues on CataList.
If you visit the Loan Stars "Monthly catalogue" section, you will see a selection of eligible Loan Stars titles that are divided by publication month and genre. These are produced four to five months before publication date and are continuously available until the book's Loan Stars month is announced. Please note, you will only see the "Recommend" buttons if you are logged in with a library account.