Assigning an ISBN code

The ISBN is the most important part of the international infrastructure of the book industry and is needed by everyone who wants to sell or distribute books internationally. ISBN and barcode – every beginning author meets this incomprehensible abbreviation and its dashes for the first time. However mysterious it may look, everything is quite simple: the ISBN is the «passport» of every book. Our publishing house assigns the ISBN code as a separate service or as part of a package of services together with book printing.

The ISBN barcode is a code used to identify books. It consists of a series of digits and letters that identify the book. Libraries and bookshops use this code to keep track of the books they have in stock, and publishers use it to keep track of the books they have published.

An ISBN is assigned to a wide variety of publications, for example books, e-books, audiobooks, textbooks, academic journals, magazines, technical reports, dissertations, reference works and government reports. By giving every publication a unique identifier, the ISBN makes it easier for libraries, booksellers and distributors to catalogue, search for and track these publications.

A few details

The ISBN barcode was first introduced in 1974. The code was originally developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Since then it has been revised several times; the last revision was published in 2006.

The ISBN barcode consists of 10 digits.

The first two digits of the code are used to identify the language of the book. For example:

• English 00;
• French 01;
• German 02;
• Italian 03;
• Spanish 04;
• Portuguese 05;
• Dutch 06;
• Swedish 07;
• Danish 08;
• Norwegian 09;
• Finnish 10;
• Icelandic 11;
• Greek 12;
• Hebrew 13;
• Arabic 14;
• Japanese 15;
• Chinese 16;
• Korean 17;
• Thai 18;
• Vietnamese 19.

The third and fourth digits of the ISBN barcode identify the country in which the book was published. For example:

• United States 00;
• Canada 01;
• United Kingdom 02;
• Ireland 03;
• Australia 04;
• New Zealand 05;
• South Africa 06;
• India 07;
• Pakistan 08;
• Bangladesh 09.

The fifth digit of the ISBN barcode identifies the publisher of the book, the sixth identifies the book itself and the seventh identifies the edition.

The eighth digit of the ISBN barcode identifies the format of the book. For example:

• hardcover 0;
• paperback 1;
• audio 2;
• e-book 3.

The ninth digit of the ISBN barcode also identifies the book. The tenth digit is the check digit, which is used to verify that the ISBN barcode is correct.

Features of assigning an ISBN code

Every person has an identity document, such as a birth certificate or a passport. The same applies to multi-page literature: books (and not only books) need unique numbers. For example, the electronic and the paper version of the same book require two separate registration codes, and if the work has several volumes you will need a special ISBN for a multi-volume edition.

The ISBN is an important stage: this is how a publication enters the register of world literature. After registration a book can no longer be withdrawn from that list, so it is worth making sure that the text is impeccable, because editing after registration will be impossible.

The ISBN makes it possible to unify the process of publishing printed material not only in our country but all over the world, which greatly simplifies working with a wide variety of books.

An ISBN consists of four parts: the country code, the publisher code, the title code and the check digit.

• The first part is the country code. It identifies the country in which the book was published and always consists of three characters. For example, the country code for the United States is «USA».
• The second part is the publisher code. It identifies the publisher of the book and usually consists of four or five characters. For example, the publisher code of Simon & Schuster is «0024».
• The third part is the title code. It identifies the specific title of the book and always consists of five characters. For example, the title code of the book «The Cat in the Hat» is «01001».
• The fourth part is the check digit. It is used to verify that the ISBN is correct and consists of a single character, which can be either a digit or a letter. For example, the check digit for the code «01001» is «0».

Buying and assigning an ISBN today

As mentioned above, the ISBN is a unique code assigned to every book. It is used to identify a book and allows booksellers and libraries to order exactly the title they need. Would you like to know how to obtain an ISBN? There are two ways to solve the question.

• On your own. This is a costly process that takes a lot of time, effort and money.
• Through a publishing house. The main advantage is receiving the code in the shortest possible time.

In Ukraine the code is issued by the Book Chamber of Ukraine. ISBNs are also sold by publishing houses that work directly with the book chamber. Besides the information about the edition itself, information about the author or authors is required, as well as copies for distribution to the main libraries of Ukraine. These copies are provided by the customer or printed by us as part of a book printing order.

There are three places where the code can be printed:

• the lower left corner of the title page (the reverse side);
• the lower left part of a combined title page;
• the cover or the spine.

Which publications are assigned an ISBN

The ISBN makes it easy to find and track publications in the global publishing industry, and it is a mandatory requirement for all books that are published and distributed commercially. The code is critical for the correct cataloguing and distribution of books and for an accurate count of sales.

An ISBN can also be assigned to a number of other publications. For example:

• Books – fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, both in print and in electronic format.
• E-books. An ISBN makes it possible to track the sales and the distribution of an e-book accurately and makes it easier for readers to find and buy it online.
• Audiobooks, both on compact discs and in digital format. An ISBN allows their sales and distribution to be tracked accurately and makes it easier for listeners to find and buy them.
• Textbooks, including textbooks for higher education institutions, so that they can be easily found and tracked in schools, in libraries and by students.
• Academic journals, including scientific journals. An ISBN allows journal articles to be catalogued and tracked correctly, which makes it easier for researchers and scientists to find them and gain access to them.
• Magazines, both printed and digital. In addition to the advantages listed above, this makes it easier to subscribe to your favourite magazines.
• Technical reports on various technical and scientific subjects, which are often used by engineers, scientists and other specialists.
• Dissertations and theses – for example graduate research projects, master’s and doctoral dissertations written as part of a degree programme.
• Reference works: encyclopaedias, dictionaries and other resources used as reference material.
• Government reports prepared by government agencies and departments, which cover a wide range of topics and provide valuable information for researchers and policy makers.

Assigning an ISBN to e-books

The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique identifier of a book or another publication. The first ISBN was assigned in 1970, and since then more than 200 million ISBNs have been issued. Publishers, booksellers and libraries use ISBNs to order, catalogue and distribute books and other publications, and researchers use them to identify and cite publications.

When a publisher assigns an ISBN to an electronic publication, the code is first added to the metadata of the file. This allows the ISBN to be displayed when the file is downloaded or opened, and it also allows automated systems to recognise the file as a publication.

There are two types of ISBN for electronic publications:

• E-ISBN. These codes are assigned to electronic publications available for purchase, such as e-books and downloadable PDF files.
• P-ISBN. These codes are assigned to electronic publications that are available free of charge, such as websites and articles from open access journals.

P-ISBNs were introduced in 2010 and E-ISBNs in 2011.

When an electronic publication is assigned an E-ISBN, the publisher can also include a price in the metadata. That price will be shown to the user when the file is downloaded or opened. If an electronic publication is updated after it has been published, the ISBN has to be updated to reflect the new version. For example, if a second edition of an e-book is released, the ISBN has to be updated to reflect the new edition.

It is important to note that an ISBN is not mandatory for electronic publications, but it can be very useful for identifying and cataloguing them.

An ISBN for a monograph

ISBNs are assigned not only to books, but also to monographs. If you are an author, a publisher or a self-publisher, you will need to buy an ISBN and assign it to your book so that it can be easily found and tracked in the global publishing industry.

Buying an ISBN is easy. It can be done through various online sources or through the ISBN agencies of different countries. The price of an ISBN varies depending on the seller and on the number of codes you buy. Our publishing house offers discounts on this service for regular and wholesale customers.

Assigning an ISBN to a monograph is an important step in the publishing process. It ensures that your book is catalogued correctly and that it will be easily found by libraries, booksellers and distributors. It also makes it possible to track sales and distribution accurately, which is an important component of the marketing and promotion of a book.

As you can see, obtaining an ISBN and assigning it to your monograph is an essential part of publishing, so it is worth taking the necessary steps to obtain it and use it correctly. The price of an ISBN may seem high, but it is a small investment compared with the benefits it brings: greater visibility and easier tracking of your book on the global market.

Is an ISBN mandatory?

The International Standard Book Number is a unique numeric identifier of a commercial book. Publishers buy ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency. An ISBN is assigned to every edition and variant of a book (except reprints). For example, the e-book, the paperback edition and the hardcover edition of the same book will all have different ISBNs. An ISBN consists of 13 digits if it was assigned on or after 1 January 2007, and of 10 digits if it was assigned before 2007. The way an ISBN is assigned differs from country to country and often depends on how large the publishing industry of the country is.

The original nine-digit ISBN configuration was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and published in 1970 as the international standard ISO 2108. The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International ISBN Agency in 1977.

Publishers who intend to distribute their books internationally are assigned an ISBN-13, because the new standard provides a single identifier for all countries. Books published before 2007 that have a 10-digit ISBN can be converted to 13 digits by adding a prefix to the ISBN.

The ISBN is used to identify and standardise a publication and its particular edition worldwide, and it is therefore a critical component of the international supply chain of the book industry. An ISBN allows publishers to keep track of their stock and provides a certain level of protection against counterfeiting.

When a book is assigned an ISBN, it is entered into the ISBN database together with the title of the book, the publisher and other relevant information. The ISBN agency then issues a barcode corresponding to the ISBN, which is used to track the stock of the book as it moves through the supply chain.

The code is assigned first of all to:

• printed non-periodical editions;
• electronic publications;
• software products.

But if we are talking about a gift edition or a book printed in a single copy that will not be sold, there is no need to think about buying an ISBN.

Which publications do not need an ISBN?

An ISBN is assigned primarily to published works intended for commercial distribution. However, not all books and publications need one. Types of publications that do not require an ISBN include:

• Self-published books. If you publish a book yourself without a traditional publisher, you do not need an ISBN. Obtaining one can nevertheless make it easier to sell the book, for example if you plan to distribute it through bookshops or online shops.
• Print-on-demand books. If you use a print-on-demand service to produce your book, you may not need an ISBN. Some print-on-demand services provide ISBNs for a fee, but this is not a requirement for all print-on-demand books.
• Books given away. If you plan to give your book away as a gift or as part of a promotion, such books are not usually sold and do not need the identification that an ISBN provides.
• Personal documents – for example personal letters, diaries and other documents not intended for commercial distribution.
• Internal reports prepared by companies and organisations for internal use only and not intended for commercial distribution.
• Newsletters produced by companies, organisations and individuals and distributed within a particular community or group.
• Marketing materials: brochures, flyers and other promotional materials produced by companies and organisations to promote their products or services.
• Unpublished works: manuscripts and drafts that have not been published and are not intended for commercial distribution.
• One-of-a-kind items: unique objects such as art reproductions, photographs and other works of art not intended for commercial distribution.

Such documents are not usually catalogued by libraries or sold by bookshops, so they do not need the unique identifier that an ISBN provides.

Prices for buying an ISBN

ISBNs are unique book identifiers used by publishers, booksellers, libraries and others in the book industry. The ISBN system was developed in the 1960s and is run by an international organisation, the International ISBN Agency.

The cost of an ISBN depends on the country in which it is bought and on the number of digits in the code. In the USA an ISBN consists of 10 digits and costs from $10 to $50. In other countries an ISBN may consist of 13 digits and the cost may be considerably higher. In Ukraine the price also varies depending on the organisation that offers the service.

An ISBN is not required for books that are self-published or published by very small publishers. However, an ISBN makes it easier for booksellers to stock and sell your book, and it can also be used to track sales and royalties.

• If you publish a book yourself, you can buy the ISBN on your own or use a service that will provide you with an ISBN for a fee.
• If you are published by a small publisher, you may get an ISBN free of charge or at a reduced price.
• If you are published by a major publisher, the ISBN will be included in your publishing contract.

An ISBN is no guarantee of success, but it can be a useful tool in the marketing and selling of your book.