Online catalogs typically offer information about the press itself, books and journals published, and ordering information. Press information, such as mailing addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, contact names, and brief descriptions of editorial programs are available, although the amount of information available varies. UBC also offers detailed information directed at potential authors, including a description of the university press publishing process and format guidelines for submitting manuscripts and electronic files. Book information is most commonly organized by subject, with titles listed alphabetically either by author or title within each category. Catalogs either have individual files for each title or list a number of titles in a file, which the user browses through until the searched-for title is found.
Most presses offer a description or summary of each title as well.
Author profiles, review quotes, and tables of contents are available in some catalogs. Only MIT and JHU Presses mention journals in their online catalogs, and offer basic information such as title, editor, frequency of publication, a short descriptive blurb, addresses, and ordering information. JHUP also offers the table of contents and abstracts of articles via gopher and FTP prior to publication. All presses offer basic ordering information and note means of access to the press, such as phone, fax, e-mail, and regular mail. UBC, Minnesota, MIT, and ORA accept orders via e-mail.