British Library Publishing moves to Hachette UK Distribution from Marston

British Library Publishing will be joining Hachette UK Distribution from 1st June from Marston Book Services. 

The British Library’s move follows in the footsteps of Profile Books in 2021, Elsevier in 2022 and Flame Tree Publishing in April 2023. Hachette said it is “home to the most advanced warehousing technology in UK publishing” and “has been a market leader in service levels since 2020,” boasting “the ongoing expansion plan represents the largest single investment in the history of the UK book distribution market”. 

The news comes a week after Penguin Random House (PRH) confirmed it would be closing its third-party distribution services at Grantham as it was “no longer commercially viable”. The Bookseller reported how “disappointed” many independent publishers were by PRH’s move, with many fearing for the “uncertain” future of distribution in the UK.  

British Library Publishing titles are all inspired by the desire to “present original, previously unpublished or undeservedly neglected content from the extensive holdings of the library”. 

British Library Publishing will be moving its distribution in the UK from Marston Book Services to Hachette UK Distribution from 29th May 2023. All orders should continue to be sent to Marston up to and including Thursday 25th May 2023. From Monday 29th May all orders for books published by British Library Publishing should be sent to Hachette UK Distribution via hukdcustomerservice@hachette.co.uk or telephone 01235 759555. Returns authorised before 26th May should continue to be sent to Marston until 25th August. Returns requests from 29th May onwards should be requested from HHC and stock returned to Hachette UK Distribution. Payments and claims should be made to the originating invoicing distributor. 

Matt Wright, c.e.o. Hachette UK Distribution, said: “We’re honoured to be partnering with the British Library’s prestigious publishing list. It’s been a brilliant and busy year growing our third-party clients and I know our teams are ready to deliver our industry-leading service, ensuring that British Library Publishing’s books reach as many readers as possible.” 

John Lee, publisher at the British Library, added: “We are pleased to have appointed Hachette UK Distribution as British Library Publishing’s new distribution partner. This new partnership represents a highly significant step forward in the development of the British Library’s publishing division and opens up a range of truly exciting new opportunities for us.”