Frequently Asked Questions

Copyrights

What does "copyright" mean?

Our nation's founding fathers determined that it was in the public interest that the creative works of a person's mind and spirit should belong, for a limited time, to the creator. The protection of these works is called "copyright". The United States Copyright Law grants to any copyright owner the exclusive rights to original material for a term, which is equal to the length of the life of the author/creator plus 70 years. For works written prior to 1978, the term is 95 years from the date the work was first published. The privilege of reproducing the work belongs to the copyright owner.

Copyright is the legal device that provides the creator of a work the right to control how the work is used. (or person / entity to whom the creator has transferred all or part of her rights) A copyright is a type of property. Like other forms of property, a copyright may be sold by its owner, or otherwise exploited for his economic benefit.

How do I know if the material I want to use has been copyrighted? 

Copyright protection exists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright in a work immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. Most of the time the work will have the registered copyright symbol © printed on it, but every work is protected by copyright regardless of whether the symbol is printed on the work or not. Only the author/creator or those deriving their rights through the author/creator can rightfully claim copyright. If any other party wants to reproduce the material in some manner, permission must be obtained.

Who owns the legal right to make copies?

The original creators (authors and composers) and/or publishers, assigned agents, etc.

Do other countries have copyright laws?

Yes. Most of the world recognizes the need to give incentive and protection to creative persons. Copyrighted material owned by U.S. citizens is protected in many other countries by each country's copyright laws and treaties with the United States.

Permission Guidelines

When do I need to submit a request for permission to use excerpts or portions of material published by The Foundry Publishing or its imprints (Nazarene Publishing House, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, WordAction Publishing Company, Barefoot Ministries, The House Studio)? 

Any time you are quoting more than 250 words from any publication from The Foundry Publishing or its imprints (Nazarene Publishing House, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, WordAction Publishing Company, Barefoot Ministries, The House Studio), written permission is required. You must also submit written request for stand-alone materials such as sermons, maps or artwork, charts, graphs, cartoons or drawings, poems etc., regardless of the word count. Written requests may be submitted as follows or fill out the online permission request form.

Mailing Address:

The Foundry Publishing
Attn: Rights and Permissions
PO Box 419527
Kansas City, MO 64141
FAX: 816-531-0923

E-mail: Permissions  

If you have a non-commercial use of 250 words or less, as in church, personal or individual use, the following copyright notice must appear on all reprints: 

"Taken from [Name of Book] by [Author]. Copyright [Date] by [Copyright Holder]. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved."

If you are uncertain regarding the need to submit written request for permissions, please contact us.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE: The Foundry Publishing cannot give permission to use material that we do not own. To quote any footnoted material or material used by permission from a third party; you will need to contact the original publisher. This information is usually found within the text or in the acknowledgement section.

How do I know if the material I want to use is in the public domain? 

If the material you want to use was printed in the United States and the copyright date printed on the material is 1922 or earlier, copyright law provides that formal permission is not needed since the copyright has expired. We do recommend that to avoid accusations of plagiarism, the source should be correctly cited. You need to include the title, author, copyright date, and publisher.

If the copyright date is 1923 or newer, please send a permission request and The Foundry Publishing will notify you if the material has entered the public domain.

How do I submit a copyright permission request? Is there more than one option?

You have several options for submitting requests:

• To submit an online request form:  Click here, then follow the instructions.
• To submit a request by fax or mail: Click here, print the form, fill it out, and submit it by fax or mail using the contact information below.

Mailing Address:
The Foundry Publishing
Attn: Rights and Permissions
PO Box 419527
Kansas City, MO 64141

FAX: 816-531-0923

E-mail: Permissions

What if I want to reprint or copy material that is out of print from The Foundry Publishing or its imprints (Nazarene Publishing House, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, WordAction Publishing Company, Barefoot Ministries, The House Studio)?

If a product is no longer available, written permission is required to reprint or reproduce any entire work. Since copyright is often returned to the author/creator, you must submit a written request for any out of print materials. Please submit your request to our Rights and Permissions office or fill out the online permission request form.

Mailing Address:
The Foundry Publishing
Attn: Rights and Permissions
PO Box 419527
Kansas City, MO 64141

FAX: 816-531-0923

E-mail: Permissions

Can I call The Foundry Publishing to request permission?

No. We must receive all requests in writing. The Foundry Publishing will respond to the permission in writing as well. If time is critical, we recommend that you submit the request via e-mail or fill out the online permission request form. We will do our best to respond as promptly as possible.

Mailing Address:
The Foundry Publishing
Attn: Rights and Permissions
PO Box 419527
Kansas City, MO 64141

FAX: 816-531-0923

E-mail: Permissions

Can I make copies to share with my Sunday School class, Bible study or other church-related group, of materials from The Foundry Publishing or its imprints (Nazarene Publishing House, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, WordAction Publishing Company, Barefoot Ministries, The House Studio)?

If the section you are reproducing is less than 250 words and not more than 1 page you may use the material as long as the following copyright notice is placed on all copies.

"Taken from [Name of Book] by [Author]. Copyright [Date] by [Copyright Holder]. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved."

For any other use please submit written request to our Rights and Permissions office or fill out the online permission request form.

Mailing Address:
The Foundry Publishing
Attn: Rights and Permissions
PO Box 419527
Kansas City, MO 64141

FAX: 816-531-0923

E-mail: Permissions

If I have extra students and don't have enough books to go around, can I photocopy the materials for those students?

You must contact us. These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

How do I inquire about translating and publishing content from The Foundry Publishing or its imprints (Nazarene Publishing House, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, WordAction Publishing Company, Barefoot Ministries, The House Studio)?

You may submit written request to our Rights and Permissions office as follows or fill out the online permission request form.

Mailing Address:

The Foundry Publishing
Attn: Rights and Permissions
PO Box 419527
Kansas City, MO 64141
FAX: 816-531-0923

E-mail: Permissions

Can I make a copy of part of a book to give away?

You may copy a single page from any book unless the copyright page specifies something different. More than a single page will require permission from the publisher. 

How do I inquire about permissions for music published by Lillenas Publishing Company?

Permission requests for the use of Lillenas copyrighted songs are handled by Music Services, located in Brentwood, Tennessee.

You may use their online forms to request permission to reproduce, record or publish Lillenas songs and use Lillenas sound recordings. Your request will be submitted directly to Music Services. (Please check to make sure the song you are requesting is owned by Lillenas. We do not own all the songs in our publications.) For information regarding the use of Lillenas drama, scripts, sketches, etc., please contact us here. 

How can I tell if a song is owned by Lillenas? 

Look at the copyright notice printed on the song, generally at the bottom of the first page. Lillenas copyright catalogs include Lillenas Publishing Company, Pilot Point Music, PsalmSinger Music, Mosie Lister Songs, J.M.Henson Music, Beacon Hill Music, Nazarene Publishing House, Consuming Worship Songs, Consuming Praise Songs, Consuming Fervor Songs, Southern Faith Songs and Highland Music Publishing. If one of these is listed as the copyright owner of a song, then Lillenas owns the song, and you may request permission for use of the song from Music Services. 

How do I inquire about permissions for Lillenas drama scripts and sketches? 

For permission information for Lillenas’ drama products, please contact us here.  

Accounts 

What is a Foundry Publishing website account? 

To place orders, you will need to create an account on our website. Account creation is a part of the checkout process. Once you have created an account, your billing information will be saved so you won't have to fill this in each time you place an order. 

What if someone in my organization has already set up an account?

Organizational accounts, such as church accounts, may have multiple users who order from our website.

If you are unsure whether someone in your organization has already created an account, you may create an account for your organization, and we will review it. While your account is being reviewed, you may still place orders.

How do I create sub accounts?

For organizational accounts, we give you the option of creating sub accounts for various users within your organization. This allows multiple users to place orders on your account, without having to share a single username and password.

One user within your organization is designated as the Account Administrator. This user can create accounts for other users and can grant ordering access to those users as appropriate. Administrator-level access is granted by default to the first user in your organization to create an account. If you have questions about the administrator on your account, please contact us at Customer Care or by calling 1-800-877-0700 (or 1-816-931-1900, if outside the United States or Canada).

Once your account is set up as an organization, here is how to create sub accounts:

1. Sign in. 
2. Choose "Manage Sub Accounts" from the list of options.
3. Click "Add Sub Account."
4. Fill out the form with your staff member's information.
5. If you are the Account Administrator, another box will appear next to that sub account that says "Place Orders." If you would like to give the new sub account privileges to charge orders to your organization's account, check the "Place Orders" box. If not, leave it empty. Another box will appear that says "Place Standing Orders." If that box is checked, that sub account can create and adjust the standing order on your organization's account. If you do not wish for this sub account to have that level of access to your organization's account, leave it empty. 
6. Finish by clicking "Save."

Ordering

How do I place an order?

Website
You may place an order by selecting the items you wish to purchase on the website. After selecting all of your items, click on the shopping cart icon. Select your method of shipment and your method of payment.

Email
You can email us at Orders. Please provide complete billing and shipping address, stock numbers, preferred shipping method, and payment method.  (Note:  we do not recommend sending credit card information via email because it is not a secure method of communication.)

Phone
In the United States & Canada:  1-800-877-0700
Outside the United States & Canada: 816-931-1900
Monday - Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central Time
Thursday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central Time

Fax
In the United States & Canada: 1-800-849-9827
Outside the United States & Canada: 1-816-531-0923

What is a “Special Order” item?

Special Order items are printed or manufactured when you place your order. Please allow approximately 15 business days before your Special Order item ships.

Please be aware that Special Order items cannot be canceled once the order is placed because production begins immediately. Special Order items are also not eligible for return.

What if I have a Special Order item and an In-Stock item on the same order?

If you are ordering both Special Order and In-Stock items, you will receive more than one shipment. Each shipment will be billed individually, and the postage for each shipment will be included on the corresponding invoice.

We will do our best to use your desired shipping method for each shipment; however, it is possible your packages could arrive via different carriers.

How is sales tax amount determined?

In accordance with applicable law, The Foundry Publishing currently collects sales tax in the following US states: AR, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NE, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, WA, WI, and WV.  (Please note that churches in AR, GA, LA, NC, and WA are not considered tax exempt.)  Canada GST (Goods and Services Tax) is added to orders shipped to Canada.

For your convenience, an estimated sales tax amount is displayed when orders are placed. The exact sales tax will be calculated and charged at the time your order is shipped. 

How do I submit my tax exemption information?

If tax has been charged on any portion of your order and you need to take advantage of your tax-exempt status, please submit a copy of your resale certificate, exemption certificate, or other acceptable proof of your exemption status for the state where the items will be shipped.

First, place your order through our website. After you've placed your order, please submit the necessary information to Accounts Receivable at:

Fax: 1-800-849-9827 or 1-816-531-0923

Email: Accounts Receivable

Please include the following:

• Your order number
• Your account number (if known)
• Email address
• Proof of exempt status
• Name of organization
• Name of person submitting the order
• Mark your fax "Attn: Accounts Receivable"

Why is my online ordering still showing tax even if I am tax exempt?

Though your organization is tax exempt, your online order will show tax all the way through the checkout process. This means that when you click pay, there will be a hold for the full amount, tax included, placed on your method of payment, but once your order is officially processed, the tax will be removed and the actual amount of your charge/purchase will decrease. 

What if my account was charged tax but I am tax exempt?

Though your organization is tax exempt*, your account will still be charged tax if:

- we do not have a current tax-exempt certificate on file. When we receive and approve your proof of exemption, we can begin applying tax credits to your order.

- you are establishing a web account for the first time and the new account has not yet been validated. If you have a tax-exempt account established, the web account validation will recalculate sales tax based on your current exemption.

* Please check with your office administrator or treasurer to verify that your organization has a valid tax-exempt certificate issued for the state to which your order is being shipped.  

If I place an order on my personal account and the church makes payment, will the order be tax exempt?

No. Your order must be charged to a tax-exempt organizational account in order to receive exemption. An order placed on a personal account and paid by a tax-exempt organization will not be exempt from tax.

Where do I find the card security code, and why must I enter it?

For your protection, we request the card security code with each credit card transaction. This allows us to verify that the person who is using the card is the cardholder.

For American Express, the number is located on the front of the card.

For Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, the code is located on the back of the card.

How can I get answers to billing questions about my account?

Email: Billing

Phone: 1-800-877-0700, Toll-Free in the United States & Canada
Phone: 1-816-931-1900, International

Fax: 1-800-849-9827, Toll-Free in the United States & Canada
Fax: 1-816-531-0923, International 

Shipping

When will my order ship?

Most orders for available products are shipped within 1-2 business days, Monday-Friday. Special orders and items on backorder are shipped as soon as they are available. 

Please note that expedited and overnight orders receive priority attention. However, that does not always mean they will arrive the next day. Please allow one day for order processing before shipping. Delivery days for expedited and overnight orders are Monday-Friday and exclude holidays.

Canadian and International orders: With customs and extended shipping time, expedited methods of shipment do arrive more quickly than ground shipments but are not guaranteed to arrive overnight.

How much will shipping cost?

The shipping cost for your order is based on the weight of the items you ordered (plus packing material), the shipping method, and the destination zip code. We maintain rate information obtained directly from UPS, the U.S. Postal Service, and FedEx.

If you order an item that is currently out of stock, the postage will be re-calculated to reflect only those items that will be shipped to you at this time.

If a rate is not available for your preferred shipping method or if your order is being shipped to an address outside the United States, the actual shipping costs will be assessed at the time your order has been filled and shipped.

What domestic shipping options do you offer?

We offer the following shipping methods in the United States: 

U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

- Media Mail - Most orders are delivered within 2-9 business days but could take up to 3 weeks. Only certain types of products can be shipped using this method. Eligible items include most books, music, and computer-readable media. Media Mail shipments cannot contain advertising or non-media products. The maximum weight for a Media Mail shipment is 70 lbs. This method offers limited tracking. Delivery days are Monday-Saturday. 

- Priority Mail - Most orders are delivered in 3-5 business days. This method offers no tracking. Delivery days are Monday-Saturday. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order. 

United Parcel Service (UPS)

- Ground – Orders are delivered in 1-5 business days, depending on your location. Delivery days are Monday-Friday. A tracking number is provided.

- 2nd Day - Delivery guaranteed within two business days after the shipping date by 7:00 p.m. (excluding holiday seasons). A tracking number is provided. Delivery days are Monday-Friday. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

- Next Day - Delivery guaranteed on the next business day after the shipping date by 12:00 p.m. (excluding holiday seasons). A tracking number is provided. Delivery days are Monday-Friday. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order. 

Federal Express (FedEx)

- Ground - Normal delivery in 1-5 business days, depending on your location. Delivery days are Monday-Friday. A tracking number is provided.

- 2nd Day - Delivery guaranteed within two business days after the shipping date by 7:00 p.m. (excluding holiday seasons). A tracking number is provided. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

- Next Day - Delivery guaranteed next business day by 12:00 p.m. from the shipping date of the order (excluding holiday seasons). A tracking number is provided. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

If you have a method by which you would like your order to be shipped other than the methods listed, please enter that selection in the instructions box in the Review & Payments screen. We will pass on the exact cost of the postage for the method of shipment you select. 

Why is Media Mail not always listed as an option for shipping?

Orders shipped via Media Mail must meet certain eligibility requirements set by the U.S. Postal Service. Media Mail can be used to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computer-readable media (such as CDs, DVDs, and diskettes). Media Mail shipments cannot contain advertising or non-media products. The maximum weight for a Media Mail shipment is 70 lbs.

What Canadian shipping options do you offer?

Note: The Canadian Postal Service charges a $5 handling fee if they are required to collect GST (taxes) on the package you are receiving. All other methods of shipping usually require brokerage fees to be paid before you receive your package (please note these brokerage fees can be very expensive). All orders entering Canada are subject to customs inspection, which may delay your shipment.

We offer the following shipping methods to Canada:

U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

- Surface Mail – This method is most cost-effective and the one we recommend. This method does not offer tracking. Most orders are delivered within 6 weeks to 3 months. Delivery days are Monday-Saturday.

- Airmail - Slightly more expensive. This method offers no tracking. Most orders are delivered within 7-15 days. Delivery days are Monday-Saturday. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

United Parcel Service (UPS)

- No service times are guaranteed. All shipments have tracking numbers. Brokerage fees are not included in their Standard Service.

- Canada Standard - Most orders are delivered in 4-5 days, Monday-Friday only, excluding holiday seasons. Brokerage fees will be applied by UPS as the package is delivered (these fees can be very expensive). Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

- Expedited Service - Fairly expensive. Most orders are delivered in 2-3 days, Monday-Friday only, excluding holiday seasons. Brokerage fees are included in the shipping costs. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

- Express Service - Very expensive. Most orders are delivered in 1-2 days, Monday-Friday only, excluding holiday seasons. Brokerage fees are included in the shipping costs. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

Federal Express (FedEx)

- International Priority - Very expensive. Most orders are delivered in 2-3 days, Monday-Friday only, excluding holiday seasons. Brokerage fees are included in the shipping costs. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

If you have a method by which you would like your order to be shipped other than the methods listed, please enter that selection in the instructions box in the Review & Payments screen. We will pass on the exact cost of the postage for the method of shipment you select. 

What international shipping methods do you offer?

We offer the following international shipping methods:

U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

- Surface Mail - This method is most cost-effective and the one we recommend. This method does not offer tracking. Most orders are delivered within 6 weeks to 3 months.

- Airmail - Slightly more expensive. This method offers no tracking. Most orders are delivered within 7-15 days. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

United Parcel Service (UPS)

- Expedited Service - Fairly expensive. Most orders are delivered in 2-3 days, Monday-Friday only, excluding holiday seasons. Brokerage fees are included in the shipping costs. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

- Express Service - Very expensive. Most orders are delivered in 1-2 days, Monday-Friday only, excluding holiday seasons. Brokerage fees are included in the shipping costs. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

Federal Express (FedEx)

- International Priority – Very expensive. Most orders are delivered in 2-3 days, Monday-Friday only, excluding holiday seasons. Brokerage fees are included in the shipping costs. Please note: Selecting an expedited shipping method does not necessarily accelerate the processing time required for your order.

If you have a method by which you would like your order to be shipped other than the methods listed, please enter that selection in the instructions box in the Review & Payments screen. We will pass on the exact cost of the postage for the method of shipment you select. 

How do I check the status of my order?

Click on the Account link in the banner. You may have to sign in. Then click on View History in the Orders section. The order information displayed here is updated several times a day. You may refer back here at any time to monitor your order as it moves through the fulfillment process.

How can I find the tracking number on my order?

Go to Order History and click on the order number. If the order has been shipped, the ship method and tracking numbers will show on the right. UPS and FedEx tracking numbers link directly to the respective tracking websites.

What if I have additional questions about order tracking?

If you have additional questions about the status of your orders, you may contact us via:

Email:  Customer Care 

Phone: 1-800-877-0700, Toll-Free in the United States & Canada
Phone: 1-816-931-1900, International

Fax: 1-800-849-9827, Toll-Free in the United States & Canada
Fax: 1-816-531-0923, International

Whichever method you choose, please provide the order confirmation number you received and the complete name and address to which you are having the product shipped.

What is a Purchase Order Number?

Some customers like to track an order through their own accounting processes by assigning each order a unique identifying number. This number is known as a Purchase Order Number or a PO Number and is given at the time the order is placed. This Purchase Order Number is then displayed on the order's packing list, as well as invoices and statements.

If your organization would like to require that all orders placed on your account include a Purchase Order Number, make sure the "Require a Purchase Order Number for all orders" setting on your account is set to "Yes."

To check your account's current setting, or to make changes to this setting: Begin by signing in to your account. From the Welcome page, select Modify your Billing/Contact Information. This setting is located near the bottom of this screen.

For additional information, please contact Customer Care or 1-800-877-0700 / 1-816-931-1900).