by Christa Joyce

Created on: January 18, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

What is an ISBN?

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a 10 or 13 digit machine-readable identification number assigned on publication. It is unique to each publication and allows publishers, libraries, and book dealers to locate books.
The first five digits of the ISBN tell bookstores and online retailers where they can order a book and identify the official publisher. No two publishers have the same ISBN prefix.

Publishing houses, book traders and libraries may also use ISBNs as a means of assisting with bibliographic searches, ordering and order tracking, stock control, sales and returns data monitoring, accounting and Rights & Royalties management

Who needs an ISBN?

The ISBN serves as a unique identifier for any published book and although often not a legal requirement, an ISBN is generally considered essential for any book produced with the intention to be sold to the general public through retail outlets and booksellers. Having an ISBN means that a book will appear in bibliographic databases which is where booksellers go to help them locate the publisher of a book so they can order it.

If you are a publisher or bookseller it may be in your own interest as you want to sell books. If your books cannot be ordered and distributed by ISBN and if they are not listed in Books in Print you may find that your books do not sell. If they cannot locate them, people will assume your books do not exist.
If your book is self-published or obtainable using print on demand technology it will not generally be stocked in bookstores and in order for readers to be able to order your book, you will need an ISBN.

How to get an ISBN

Presently, more than 160 countries or territories are official ISBN members and if you wish to obtain an ISBN, you should contact the national ISBN agency in your own country. They will be able to guide you through the application process.
Details of where to find your local ISBN office may be found online at
http://isbn-international.org/en/agencies.html

As from January 2007 all ISBN s will be 13 digit identifiers. Important information on the implementation and guidelines of the 13-digit ISBN can be found on the International ISBN Agency site: http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/transition.a sp

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