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You may only register titles, editions and formats that have been published in the last 5 years with a new 13-digit ISBN.
You may register a maximum of 20 new titles per year. The maximum applies to all formats, including print books, e-books and audiobooks. A print book and an e-book are considered as the same title. An audiobook is considered a separate, new title. Adding new ISBNs to titles you have previously registered will not be counted towards the 20-title annual limit.
Titles are eligible for payments for a maximum of 25 years from the date of registration. Once a title has been registered, ISBNs for new formats or editions may be added to the title and will be used for library searches. New formats or editions do not change the length of time a title is registered.
A publication subsequent to the 25-year registration period may be submitted to the Program as a new title. It must have a new ISBN.
Register print and e-book titles
To add new titles, editions or formats to your file, you must use the File Update form we mailed you on February 15 and send it back to us no later than May 1. If you have not received a File Update form by March 31, contact us at plr@canadacouncil.ca.
To add new formats or editions for your existing titles:
- Complete the File Update form we mailed you and enter the ISBNs for new formats or editions of your existing titles.
- Mail the File Update form back to us no later than May 1.
To register a new title:
- Check the eligibility of your book and contribution.
- Calculate the percentage share of your contribution.
- Complete the File Update form we mailed you in February.
- Include the required support materials per the File Update form.
- Mail the File Update form with the required support materials for all the titles you are registering no later than May 1.
If you have more than 3 new titles, formats or editions to register, you will need to:
- photocopy the File Update form we mailed you; or
- download the Registration form. It must accompany the File Update form we mailed you.
Register audiobooks
To add audiobooks to your file, complete the Audiobook Registration form and send it to us no later than May 1. It must accompany the File Update form we mailed you in February. If you have not received a File Update form by March 31, contact us at plr@canadacouncil.ca.
Audiobook registration form
If the form won’t open
To view the form, you will need the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
Make sure the PDF is opening in Adobe Reader and not in a browser: right‑click the document in your downloads folder and select Open with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
To add new formats or editions for your existing audiobook titles:
- Complete the Audiobook Registration form and enter the ISBNs for new formats or editions of your existing audiobook titles.
- Mail the File Update form and the Audiobook Registration form to us no later than May 1.
To register audiobooks:
- Check the eligibility of your audiobook and contribution.
- Calculate the percentage share of your contribution.
- Complete the Audiobook Registration form.
- Include the required support materials per the Audiobook Registration form.
- Mail the File Update form and the Audiobook Registration form with the required support materials for all the titles you are registering no later than May 1.
Please note: The PLR Program requires a valid ISBN so that it can search for an audiobook in a public library collection. Audiobooks that do not have an ISBN are not eligible for registration.
Notice of file closure
All registered titles, including editions that correspond to the initial PLR claim for a work, are retired after 25 years, or after 5 consecutive years of not being found in the annual PLR search of library collections. You will receive notice that your file has been closed when all titles in your file are to be retired from the Program.
Should a new edition of your book be published after the 25-year limit and that it has a new ISBN, you may register it as a new publication for review.
You may also register any new work that has been published within the last 5-year period and that has not previously been submitted to the PLR Program.