ISBN (International Standard Book Number) System
What is an ISBN?
The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) system, established in 1968, is a standard identification system for books and other monographic publications. Currently almost every item found in a bookstore has an ISBN. All book databases use the ISBN to track books.
The ISBN is a series of numbers and/or letters found on books, almost always on the back cover near the barcode and also on the copyright page. Each ISBN is unique and with it a computer search can locate the publisher, author, place of publication and other pertinent details.
Do I need an ISBN?
If you want to sell to bookstores or if you want libraries to find your book, you need an ISBN. If your book is being published by a commercial publisher, they will assign one of their own ISBN numbers to it, however if you are publishing yourself, you will need to get one.
What is the meaning of the ISBN digits?
The four parts of an ISBN are as follows:
Group or country identifier which identifies a national or geographic grouping of publishers;
Publisher identifier which identifies a particular publisher within a group;
Title identifier which identifies a particular title or edition of a title;
Check digit is the single digit at the end of the ISBN which validates the ISBN.
Where do I get an ISBN?
ISBN are assigned by ISBN group agencies worldwide coordinated by the International ISBN Agency in Berlin. ISBNs are assigned in the United States by the U.S. ISBN Agency. R.R. Bowker is the independent agent in the U.S. for this system. More information, including the application process can be found at http://www.isbn.org
For additional ISBN information or related questions help@adamhilldesign.com
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