How to quote books that have no publisher?

Books lacking publisher information can be cited by identifying alternative bibliographic elements to ensure traceability and academic integrity. The core principle is providing sufficient detail for others to locate the source. Essential elements include the author(s), complete title (including subtitle), year of publication or creation, and any unique identifiers like an ISBN if available. Crucially, clearly indicate the absence of a publisher and document the source's provenance; specify if it is a self-published work, an unpublished manuscript, held within a specific archive or special collection, or obtained directly from the author. Accuracy in transcribing titles and author names is paramount, and consulting specific style guides (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) for exact formatting rules on handling missing publishers is required. To implement this, follow these steps: Begin the citation with the author(s). Include the full book title in italics, followed by the publication year. Explicitly state "[Self-published]" or "[no publisher]" where the publisher name would normally appear. If the book is housed in an archive or library, add "Held by [Institution Name], [Collection Name, if applicable], [Location]" at the end. For example: "Doe, J. (2020). *Exploring Uncharted Territories*. [Self-published]. Held by University Library, Special Collections, Anytown, CA." Always verify the archive's preferred citation format.