Printing short run hardback books?

November 2, 2005 4:48 AM

I need to print a short run of hardback books, hopefully relatively inexpensively. Does anyone have any good experiences with any firms? Delivery would be to California.
posted by bwerdmuller to Writing & Language (2 answers total)

Acme Bookbinding has always been good to me. I used them for binding for my library, but I know they do short runs as well. They're in Massachusetts, so maybe there's somewhere closer to CA. One of out book conservators did criticize Acme's binding once, but I always thought they did a great job and their customer service reps are very helpful (and, if you're lucky, they'll have charming New England accents).

Also, in looking over their short-run binding practices, it looks like they use a different binding process for that, so I can't speak to the quality of that binding.
posted by Uncle Glendinning at 5:11 AM on November 2, 2005

One short-run, online book printer is Lulu.com that seems remarkably easy (I plan to use it for an idea I have upcoming) and people can order a copy and a printing will be made specifically for that order only so there is no inventory. Discounts to the author on bulk orders, if I recall.
posted by vanoakenfold at 11:21 AM on November 2, 2005