In the clear majority of studies, the report that is given ("delivered") to the sponsors is a "prepub" (prepublication) version. A prepub is a manuscript-sized, photocopied version of the final report. It is not a draft; it is the final report in terms of its substance. There can be only editing changes to it before it is printed as a book. Occasionally there is time in the contract to prepare a printed book before delivery. Except in those few cases, work begins to turn the prepub into a book.

The National Academies Press (NAP) publishes and sells most of the reports from the Academies. The NAP also maintains a terrific web site (www.nap.edu), on which most reports of the institution are posted in digital format for public use.

The old cliche is that too many reports in Washington simply sit on shelves. For most IOM activities, that is not a major problem. But affecting policy is what we do, so it is important that we take advantage of the opportunities to get the message of our reports out to the appropriate audiences-not to advocate, but to get the information to the people who can use it. For that reason, IOM places a high value on carefully thinking through the primary and secondary audiences, the bottom line messages, and the vehicles through which you get the messages to those audiences.

The Office of Reports and Communication (ORAC) manages IOM's communication and dissemination activities and often calls on the expertise of the Academies' Office of News and Public Information, the NAP, and the Office of Congressional and Government Affairs to help with the dissemination of reports.

The News Media
Many National Academies reports are newsworthy, and the news media serve as an important channel for disseminating the content of reports. It is critical, however, to observe carefully the institution's rules of confidentiality until the report is ready for release to the public. The report first must have successfully completed review and been thoroughly edited, and the available printed copies must be adequate to meet demand. Reports frequently are made available to the media in advance, on an embargoed basis shortly before public release, in order to give reporters time to review the material and prepare accurate news stories.

Publishing Services
The National Academies Press (NAP) is the publisher for the institution, and makes reports available to read free of charge on its Web site. NAP offers a wide range of services, from publication planning and editing to marketing and distribution. It publishes some 200 committee reports each year, ranging from pre-publication photocopies to full-color, high-quality trade books that are marketed nationally and internationally. IOM members receive a 25 percent discount on all books purchased from NAP for personal use.

Congressional Outreach
The Office of Congressional and Government Affairs (OCGA) is responsible for dissemination and outreach to the congressional and executive branches of government. OCGA often is contacted as a report enters review, in order to consider the possibilities of congressional briefings, hearings that might require testimony, and other events.

Dissemination of reports that are congressionally mandated involves specific guidelines. For other reports, OCGA targets concerned members of Congress and the appropriate congressional committees.