Request a book
Follow these steps to ensure your book request is handled quickly and smoothly
Information on these pages is subject to change. Last checked and updated 13 August 2020.
For bulk requests of titles for the same publisher. If you have a large number of titles (more than 30) that you want to request for the same publisher, please contact us and we will provide you with a more streamlined process, that will make it easier for you, us and the publisher.
1. Search the site for the book you need.
To search the site simply enter the ISBN into the search box (no spaces or hyphens), if we have the title it will appear in the search results. Also search separately for the title. If we don’t have it …
2. Do you need to contact the publisher directly?
Check our list of publishers who request that you contact them. Some publishers ask that you contact them directly. This includes the Academic department at Oxford University Press and Pearson US. We have provided contact details where available to us.
Additionally there are a number of publishers who we have attempted to contact, but sadly have not responded to us, or we cannot identify up to date contact information or may no longer be operating. Please check our list, you are welcome to try to contact them directly yourself.
3. Does the publisher work with RNIB Bookshare?
Check our list of publishers who work with us. If they are then you can move to step 4. We’re also happy to approach new publishers too, and are frequently adding new publishers. So if you can't see them on either list, we are happy to try contacting them.
There is just one more thing to do…
4. How old is the title you need?
Check publisher file availability dates. Publishers may not have electronic files of a title due to the age of the book or if files were not transferred when they acquired the imprint. For example Pearson cannot provide files for Heinemann titles published before 2009.
Important! We do not process titles dating from 2000 or earlier. This is because a publisher is extremely unlikely to have an electronic file of it in their archives.
So, we don't have the title, the publisher works with us and it's not too old, now you can...
5. Request your book
Complete our Book request form. You’ll need to be logged into your account. Please provide the title and ISBN. Also, it helps save us time if you tell us the publisher too. If we need any additional information to fulfil your request, we'll contact you promptly.
6. Track your book request
You can keep track of your book requests through your account and we'll email you once it's ready to download.. Please quote the case number if you need to chase a request.
Please note: Due to a growing number of automated live feeds from our publishers, your title may be added to the collection before the team has chance to check, or is notified by the publisher. In particular where the publisher provides us with an automated direct feed. We suggest that you check the site regularly for the title you have requested.
Turn-around times: We appreciate that it can be difficult, but we do recommend requesting titles as far in advance as possible. Turn-around times from publishers can be as little as 24 hours or up to 10 weeks. At peak times of year the turn-around times can increase. We will chase publishers for outstanding requests regularly.
7. Finally, download it!
Download your book. Checkour Copyright downloading guidance about using and storing books.
