What is an ISBN?
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit number. It is the standard identifier for the book industry – internationally.
- Prefix – currently this can only be [private_member]either 978 or 979 (always 3 digits).
- Registration group element - identifies the particular country, geographical region, or language area participating in the ISBN system. This number may be between 1 and 5 digits in length.
- Registrant element - this identifies the particular publisher or imprint. This may be up to 7 digits in length.
- Publication element (Yellow) - identifies the particular edition and format of a specific title. This may be up to 6 digits in length.
- Check digit - this is always the final single digit that mathematically validates the rest of the number. It is calculated using a Modulus 10 system with alternate weights of 1 and 3.
- The Number “5” Identifies US Dollars
- Identifies the Price of the book as $13.95
Why do I need an ISBN? It Identifies Ownership
The purpose of the ISBN is to establish and identify one title or one unique edition of a title from one specific publisher. An ISBN allows for more efficient marketing and cataloging of products by booksellers, libraries, universities, wholesalers, and distributors. It is the tracking number for your book. This is especially important as there are many books out there on the market today with the same title and/or authors with the same name.
The ISBN is what uniquely identifies your book as your book. The person or entity that purchases the ISBN owns and has the rights to the ISBN number. For example, if your book is published by one publisher and you move that same book to a different publisher, a new ISBN is assigned to that title and the previous ISBN should be terminated.
An ISBN number is also how people find your book – all of the search engines on the internet key off the ISBN (Google, Yahoo, Bing); all of the bookstores organize their entire database listings off of the ISBN (Borders, B&N), and with the new web and social networking world (Amazon.com, Facebook, Visual Bookshelf) it is still vital to getting your book exposed, discovered, and sold. As more and more eBooks hit the cyber-shelves, ebook publishers are now requiring ISBN numbers for eBooks.
Can a Self-publisher or Independent Publisher Obtain an ISBN?
If somebody asks if you are a publisher…as a self-publisher, you say YES! Self-publisher, indy publisher, independent publisher, your are viewed as a publisher — the one who is undertaking the financial risk to bring a book to market and coordinating everything involved: advertising, marketing, printing, order fulfillment, etc.
How does the process work?
First, a publisher applies for an ISBN. The ISBN Agency emails the ISBN to the publisher. The ISBN is placed on the copyright page and is encoded on a bar code, which is placed on the back cover of the book. Then, when the book is about to be sold, the publisher registers the title in Books in Print at BowkerLink.com.
Do I need a bar code?
You will need a bar code if you are going to sell your book in stores. There are several different bar code systems in the United States. The kind of bar code used in bookstores is called the EAN 13 bar code. You can purchase an EAN 13 bar code at the time you order your ISBN through Bowker Bar Code Services or you can get one afterward from a bar code supplier. Companies like Lightning Source Inc and CreateSpace allow you to use your own ISBN number and will create the barcode for you. Purchasing barcodes by themselves usually cost around $25.00.
Start with Bowker
You may come across multiple agencies selling ISBN numbers. Go to the source and start with Bowker. They are is the official agency for assigning ISBN numbers. In North America they are the leading provider of bibliographic information.
How do I get an ISBN?
Getting an ISBN is fairly easy. The Bowker site will lead you to http://www.myidentifiers.com. You will need to fill out an application.
If you are an author with a plan to write a series of books, you can save money by buying the ISBN numbers in bulk. Spend time looking around on the Bowker site. They have great FAQs!
How do I register my title in Books in Print?
Publishers (that includes you, the self-publisher) register their titles in Books in Print at http://www.BowkerLink.com. Please wait to receive your ISBN before going to BowkerLink (see below) and registering as a new user.
