Metadata is the set of data that describes and identifies your book. Think of it as your book’s digital fingerprint; it allows retailers, libraries, and readers to find your work among millions of other titles.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Metadata Consistency

The most important rule for metadata is consistency. The information you enter into the Project Creation tool must exactly match the information printed on your book’s cover and interior title/copyright page (for print) or the internal data of your file (for ebooks).


If your metadata says "Written by J.P. Smith" but your files say "Joseph Smith," retail distribution partners will likely reject the project and will not pass the review process. Always double-check that your Title, Subtitle, Contributor names, and ISBN are identical in both your files and your project details entered on the Copyright step. 


You can find more information on the requirements from our distribution partners, specifically regarding metadata, here: 

Ebook-Specific Metadata

Unlike print books, ebooks contain "hidden" metadata inside the EPUB file itself. During the Review step of the Project Creation tool, our system scans your ebook file to ensure the internal Title, Subtitle, Contributor, and ISBN match what you entered on the Copyright Step.


If you receive a "Metadata Mismatch" error, it means the information inside your EPUB doesn't match your Lulu project details.


How to Fix Ebook Metadata

If you need to edit the internal metadata of your EPUB file to match your project, we recommend using a free EPUB editor like Calibre. This allows you to easily update the metadata of your ebook. 


To use this program for this purpose, please follow these instructions:

  1. Download the EPUB file to your computer by clicking on the Download Converted File button in the Design step or on the Ebook File button in the Review step of the Project Creation Tool
  2. Once downloaded, right-click on the file and choose to open it with Calibre, and add the EPUB file to your Calibre library
  3. Highlight the file and click the Edit Metadata icon
  4. Check this information against the information provided in the Project Creator
  5. Correct any information that does not match or is missing
  6. You can also check the metadata by clicking the Edit Book icon and navigating to the content.opf file
  7. Save changes made to the EPUB metadata and upload the revised EPUB file to the Design step of your project


Click here for more information on how to edit your metadata in Calibre.


Please Note: The ISBN needs to display in the ids field in Calibre (ex: isbn:9781234567890).

Can I Change My Metadata After Publishing?

Certain fields, such as your ISBN, Title/Subtitle, and Author name, are locked once a project is published and with Global Distribution enabled. To change these, you will need to create a new project. Other details, like the Description or Price, can be updated by revising your project.


However, if your project is only published through the Lulu Bookstore, you can change your Title/Subtitle, Author's name at any time. Projects published through the Lulu Bookstore do not require an ISBN, but regardless, ISBNs cannot be changed once assigned to a book. 

Is My Cover File Part of My Metadata?

No. Your interior and cover files are the content of your book. However, the text in those files must match the metadata you provide in the Copyright step to pass the Global Distribution review process.