INEbase / Publishing Activity Statistic / General methodology

General methodology since 2012.
General methodology until 2011.

Summary

The Book publishing activity statistic was elaborated by the INE for the first time in 1965. It is currently elaborated annually, in accordance with the regulations contained in the revised recommendation on the international standardisation of statistics relative to the production and distribution of books, newspapers and other periodical publications, approved by the UNESCO General Assembly in November of 1985.

The objective of this statistic is to obtain information on the number and characteristics of books and leaflets, that is, on the non-periodical publications published in the country and made available to the public.

The analysis unit is books and leaflets. Books are differentiated from leaflets by the number of pages, which cannot be less than 49 in the case of books, and not less than 5 nor more than 48 in the case of leaflets. The reference period is the natural year.

The primary data used for the elaboration of this statistic is taken directly from the books registered in the Copyright Section of the Acquisitions Department of the National Library during that year, regardless of the year they were printed, as well as from the accompanying documentation; copyright number application form, and for books subject to ISBN (International Standard Book Number) registration, from the relevant application card.