Hi - I have had a hetic few months on this subject - having decided to go this route I had to do a great deal of research on ways and means - had to learn DTP, and PDFing - how to build a web, write blogs and network.  I had very limited funds so none of the packages were of any use to me.

I designed my own cover arranged my own layout and with a great deal of help from more literate friends than I, got it proof read.  I found a local printer who was very helpful and he offered a package i could afford where he supplied the ISBN- dealing with the orders (one hopes will trickle in!) and deal with the finance (I'm rubbish at order and sums) would make sure the different libaries would receive their copies for little more than buying the 10 (minimum) ISBNs

to cover costs before they were spent I advertised a special edition to everyone I knew at a reduced (slightly) price and paid up front - that money paid for all the printing and the package - so when that edition sold out although I had made nothing I was not out of pocket either.  Now its on my web site and I start again with the sequel - this time with more knowledge and hopefully it wont be quite so time consuming!

I have also been helping to edit a collection of childhood memories  - from the Living History Group I run for the local U3A - the printers costs were always going to be to high for a low run of books - it was intended for family and friends only - so we decided to go the Lulu route - it wasn't going into the shops so we didnt need an ISBN but Lulu can provide it.  We did our own illustrations and layout again and to a certain extent our own cover however, when we managed to get it loaded onto Lulu we discovered we would have to change the size of the book and the cover slightly.  It certainly wasn't a problem and although it took a few hours to get the hang of it and do the changes we managed and got a very nice book, which all the members are pleased with. 

We are proof reading now and hope to have the copies in our hands very soon.  The delivery was good and the standard of printing was good.  Both methods I used took time, because to keep costs down for both projects meant a lot of work done oneself, so its a time consuming buisness, but, I have got great satisfaction from the control I have had at every stage and the fact that I have managed to get my head around the skills needed.

I dont think one is necessarily better than the other -I went the local printer route because of enviromental issues - for the same reasons I had to look for an eco web host - the group had no such concerns  - Lulu will get one on Amazon but I had decided not to go through shops so this wasn't an issue for me.

Thanks for this very useful post.  I've used Lulu several times, it can be a sharp learning curve, but it is a low cost option.  We'll be using this to print the Spring Fever anthology.

You obviously have a lot of information on both routes.  Would you be willing to take part in a Chat session so the wider membership could benefit?