Book proposal submissions

What does HSRC Press do? [back to top]

The HSRC Press is a hybrid press, with a mandate to disseminate HSRC research output and other valuable social science research. It supports the social science research community through a strong commitment to ‘publishing social science that makes a difference’.

How do I submit a manuscript? [back to top]

We are always interested to receive proposals for new books. If you have a book proposal that you would like to submit to the HSRC Press, you can download a proposal form at www.hsrcpress.ac.za/authors, or contact:

Publishing Director
HSRC Press
Private Bag X9182
Cape Town 8000
South Africa

T +27 21 466 8000
F +27 21 461 0836
Email publishing@hsrc.ac.za

How are prospective publications reviewed by the HSRC Press? [back to top]

All reviews are independent evaluations of the full manuscript on a double-blind basis (anonymous author-anonymous reader) by at least two recognized specialists in the broad area of the manuscript's focus, using the following criteria:

• the soundness and relevance of the social science scholarship to HSRC research priorities
• the importance of the subject matter and originality of the approach
• the strength of argument
• the clarity of the organization and quality of the writing
• the publication of the manuscript will not jeopardize the balance between HSRC and non-HSRC originated publications.

All review reports are submitted to the Editorial Board for consideration, which in turn makes recommendations to the Director on the publication or otherwise of manuscripts under review. The final decision to publish rests with the Director, subject to the review of the CEO of the HSRC. Where a manuscript is being considered for publication by the Editorial Board is either authored and/or edited by any member of the Board, or if any other member of the board has made a chapter contribution to this or any other manuscript under consideration, that member shall recuse him/herself from any discussions of or recommendation on the manuscript in question.

Do you co-publish with other publishers? [back to top]

HSRC Press looks for co-publishers which would maximise the potential and exposure of our publications. Some of our works are however of very particular interest and not appropriate for international publication.

Who can I contact for more information? [back to top]

Although we have tried to make our site as easy as possible to navigate, there may be times when you would prefer to deal with us directly, either via telephone or fax.
In this case you can call Utando Baduza (Commissioning Editor) on 021- 466 8032.

Media & Marketing

How can I get an inspection copy of an HSRC Press title? [back to top]

Considering adopting one of our books for course use? To obtain an inspection copy, please contact:

Shaun Stuart
Marketing Co-ordinator
HSRC Press
Private Bag X9182
Cape Town 8000
South Africa

T +27 21 466 8000
F +27 21 461 0836
Email publishing@hsrc.ac.za

How can I obtain a media copy of an HSRC title? [back to top]

Thinking of reviewing one of our publications in one of yours? To obtain a review copy, please contact:

Karen Bruns
Marketing Manager
HSRC Press
Private Bag X9182
Cape Town 8000
South Africa

T +27 21 466 8000
F +27 21 461 0836
Email publishing@hsrc.ac.za

How do you market your publications? [back to top]

HSRC marketing is similar to that of most scholarly presses. Our publications are marketed to libraries, bookshops, academics and given exposure at conferences. We use both print and electronic marketing materials.


Can I link to HSRC Press publications on our website? [back to top]

You may link to our publications at no cost, and with our thanks. Please e-mail us at publishing@hsrc.ac.za with your request and we will provide you with the necessary URL.

Ordering a Press title

How do I place an order? [back to top]

Ordering books is a simple process. When you have found something you wish to buy, simply click the "BUY ONLINE" button that appears on the book's detail page. The button looks like this:



Once you have finished browsing and would like to complete your order, click "Pay Now" at the bottom of the screen. If you're happy with the selection in your basket, just press the "Submit" button and the payment process will begin.

Fill in all your details and confirm your order. An account will be created for you the first time you order, so that you will not have to fill in most of the details when you return to shop on another occasion.

Once we are in receipt of your order, we will send you confirmation of the titles you have ordered and the total amount to be debited to your credit card by e-mail.

Alternatively, you can simply complete the attached order form and mail or fax it back to your local HSRC Press sales agent.

How can I pay for my purchase? [back to top]

We accept the following Credit Cards as methods of payment: Master Card, Visa Card, Diners Club Card and American Express. Simply enter your card details into the fields provided and submit your order. We will only charge your credit card when the books have left our premises en route to you.

I can't pay by credit card and want to be invoiced - can this be done? [back to top]

Yes, it can.
If you would like a proforma invoice for an item so that you can issue a cheque or direct transfer. Or if you would like to submit a purchase order to us – e-mail orders@blueweaver.co.za with the details and we'll send you an invoice right away. Your order will be delivered upon receipt of your payment or a formal purchase order from a recognised institution/vendor.

Is it safe to enter my credit card details? [back to top]

Thawte certifies the security on this site, ensuring that our shopping basket is a safe e-commerce environment.

Furthermore, we do not store your credit card details on any publicly accessible server; in the extremely unlikely event that someone with malicious intent managed to breach our security, there is no sensitive data stored for them to steal or corrupt.

How long will it take to receive the books I have ordered? [back to top]

Depending on the availability of the selected title(s) and the method of delivery you have opted for, delivery times will vary.
For people in South Africa, delivery by courier takes 3 – 5 days while delivery by Registered Mail takes 12 – 14 days.
If you live outside South Africa, please consult our table of shipping methods and costs, as lead-times will vary depending on where in the world you are.
Shipping costs are explained more fully in your shopping basket.

How do I keep track of what I've ordered? [back to top]

At present, you cannot view the status of your orders online. If you would like to query an order, please e-mail orders@blueweaver.co.za with the details, and we will sort it out for you.

I still have not received my order – what can I do now? [back to top]

Please feel free to contact us at publishing@hsrc.ac.za and we will gladly assist you in tracking your order. Please ensure that you quote your order no. in all correspondence sent to us. Be sure to include your daytime contact details as well.

Do I qualify for a discount? [back to top]

If you are an academic institution, a non-profit organization or charity, or a library seeking to order a significant quantity of books, please e-mail orders@blueweaver.co.za and we will discuss your situation.

Can I cancel an order? [back to top]

While we don't encourage the whimsical cancellation of orders, we are not unreasonable. If you have a problem, have ordered a duplicate title or ordered a title in error, please e-mail orders@blueweaver.co.za and we will do whatever we can to accommodate you.

Can I return a book I bought from you? [back to top]

This is not usually possible unless you have received the incorrect order or your books have been damaged in transit. Please e-mail orders@blueweaver.co.za to discuss.
Where your book has been accepted for return, please note that the cost of shipping the book back to us will be for your account.

In trying to purchase a book my shopping basket keeps overwriting my previous submission. What should I do? [back to top]

Our site stores information in a small text file, called a cookie, that is written to your browser. This information is directly linked to your shopping basket, in order to keep track of your purchases. So if you do not have cookies enabled then unfortunately each item will be overwritten by your next entry. So, please enable your cookies!

This book is out of print; can I still get a copy? [back to top]

While we may no longer carry stock of this title, uou may be able to download a pdf file of the book if it is available as an electronic product.
Also, utilising the international inter-library loan system, you may be able to get photocopied versions. We suggest that you make application through your library. Our manager at HSRC Information Services is Ms Faye Reagon and your librarian can e-mail her at freagon@hsrc.ac.za.

I know about some research that was done by the HSRC, but I don’t see the book listed here. How can I find out more information? [back to top]

You may e-mail us at publishing@hsrc.ac.za to make enquiry as to the availability of specific titles.
You could also visit the HSRC corporate site at www.hsrc.ac.za and search under the Research Programmes. The information you are looking for could be contained in a client report and may therefore not be available as a published HSRC Press title.
Another option might be that the title you are looking for is out of print. Utilising the international inter-library loan system, you may nonetheless be able to access a copy. Please contact your librarian.

Who can I contact for more information? [back to top]

Although we have tried to make our site as easy as possible to navigate, there may be times when you would prefer to deal with us directly, either via telephone or fax.
In this case you can call contact Shaun.

Downloading a Press title

Do I have to pay to download a book? [back to top]

No. In terms of the HSRC Press dual publishing philosophy, valuable academic research material can be accessed both in print and online. Printed copies of HSRC publications are available in bookstores, libraries and via online bookshops, while online versions can be downloaded (either as specific chapters or as entire publications) at no cost via the HSRC Press website. As far as we are aware, www.hsrcpress.ac.za is the first fully-functional Open Access publishing website in southern Africa.

Can I use information from HSRC Press publications I download, such as graphs or parts of documents? [back to top]

Yes, although any materials used must acknowledge the HSRC as the copyright holder and attribute the author of the publication.

I’m having difficulty downloading a book. Please help. [back to top]

Firstly always ensure that you have Acrobat Reader software set up on your computer. If not, you can download it for free here.



Depending on the speed of your internet connection, it may take a while to download an entire book, so please be patient. You could elect to download publications by chapter in the event of slow download or limited bandwidth.
If you are still unable to download any of the pdf files, please send us an e-mail clearly indicating your specific problem and we will gladly assist you.

Subscriptions

How can I change my e-mail address on my subscription(s)? [back to top]

It's easy and takes about 15 seconds. Simply click “update details” at the bottom of the mailer received form us, and amend your e-mail address from there.

How did my name get added to your mailing list? [back to top]

We only send e-mail such as New Book Notifications and Newsletters to people who specifically requested it by adding their name to our opt-in subscription form.
We used to be double opt-in, but found that confirmation messages were being eaten by filters, so people who wanted to be subscribers sometimes couldn't be. So we don't confirm your subscription - at least not for the time being.
If your name has been added to our list, and you do not wish to receive our e-mails, please send us an e-mail with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Can I switch from HTML to text-only newsletter format? [back to top]

It's easy. Simply send an e-mail to publishing@hsrc.ac.za requesting a text-only newsletter.