ISBN (International Standard
Book Number): History and History and How ISBN are Issued
The International Standard
Book Number (ISBN) is a unique numeric commercial book identifier.
An ISBN is assigned to each
edition and variation (except reprintings) of a book. For example, an e-book, a
paperback and a hardcover edition of the same book would each have a different
ISBN. The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007, and 10
digits long if assigned before 2007. The method of assigning an ISBN is
nation-based and varies from country to country; often depending on how large
the publishing industry is within a country.
The initial ISBN configuration of
recognition was generated in 1967 based upon the 9-digit Standard Book
Numbering (SBN) created in 1966. The 10-digit ISBN format was
developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and was
published in 1970 as international standard ISO 2108 (the SBN code can be
converted to a ten digit ISBN by prefixing it with a zero).
Occasionally, a book may appear
without a printed ISBN if it is printed privately or the author does not follow
the usual ISBN procedure; however, this can be rectified later.
Another identifier, the International
Standard Serial Number (ISSN), identifies periodical publications such as magazines;
and the International Standard Music Number (ISMN) covers for musical scores.
History:
The Standard Book Numbering (SBN) code is a numeric commercial book identifier
based upon 9-digits created by Gordon Foster, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at
Trinity College, Dublin, for the booksellers and stationers
WHSmith and others
in 1965. The ISBN configuration of recognition was generated in 1967 by David
Whitaker (regarded as the "Father of the ISBN" and Emery Koltay (who
later became director of the U.S. ISBN agency, Bowker).
The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO
2108. The United Kingdom continued to use the 9-digit SBN code until 1974. ISO
has appointed the International ISBN Agency as the registration authority for
ISBN worldwide and the ISBN Standard is developed under the control of ISO
Technical Committee 46/Subcommittee 9 TC 46/SC 9. The ISO on-line facility only
refers back to 1978.
An SBN may be converted to an ISBN by prefixing the digit "0". For
example, the second edition of Mr. J. G Reeder Returns published by Hodder in
1965 has
"SBN 340 01381 8" - 340 indicating
the publisher, 01381 their serial number, and 8 being the check digit, this can
be converted to ISBN 0-340-01381-8, the check digit does not need to be
re-calculated.
Since 1 January 2007, ISBNs have contained 13 digits, a format that is
compatible with "
Bookland" European Article Number EAN-13s.
Overview:
An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation (except reprintings) of a
book. For example, an ebook, a paperback, and a hardcover edition of the same
book would each have a different ISBN.
The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007, and 10
digits long if assigned before 2007. An International Standard Book Number
consists of 4 parts (if it is a 10 digit ISBN) or 5 parts (for a 13 digit
ISBN):
The parts of a 10-digit ISBN and the corresponding EAN‑13
and barcode. Note the different check digits in each. The part of the EAN‑13
labeled "EAN" is the
Bookland country code.
- for a
13-digit ISBN, a prefix element – a GS1 prefix: so far 978 or 979
have been made available by GS1,
- the registration
group element, (language-sharing country group, individual country or
territory)
- the registrant
element,
- the publication
element, and
- a checksum
character or check digit.
A 13-digit ISBN can be separated into its parts (
prefix element,
registration
group,
registrant,
publication and
check digit), and
when this is done it is customary to separate the parts with hyphens or spaces.
Separating the parts (
registration group,
registrant,
publication
and
check digit) of a 10-digit ISBN is also done with either hyphens or
spaces. Figuring out how to correctly separate a given ISBN number is
complicated, because most of the parts do not use a fixed number of digits.
How ISBNs are issued:
ISBN issuance is country-specific, in that ISBNs are issued by the ISBN
registration agency that is responsible for that country or territory
regardless of the publication language. The ranges of ISBNs assigned to any
particular country are based on the publishing profile of the country
concerned, and so the ranges will vary depending on the number of books and the
number, type, and size of publishers that are active. Some ISBN registration
agencies are based in national libraries or within ministries of culture and
thus may receive direct funding from government to support their services. In
other cases, the ISBN registration service is provided by organisations such as
bibliographic data providers that are not government funded. In Canada, ISBNs
are issued at no cost with the stated purpose of encouraging Canadian culture.
In the United Kingdom, United States, and some other countries, where the
service is provided by non-government-funded organizations, the issuing of
ISBNs requires payment of a fee.
Australia: ISBNs are issued by the commercial library services agency
Thorpe-Bowker, and prices range from $42 for a single ISBN (plus a $55
registration fee for new publishers) to $2,890 for a block of 1,000 ISBNs.
Access is immediate when requested via their website.
Brazil: National Library of Brazil, a government
agency, is responsible for issuing ISBNs, and there is a cost of R$16
Canada: Library and Archives Canada, a
government agency, is responsible for issuing ISBNs, and there is no cost.
Works in French are issued an ISBN by the
Bibliothèque et Archives
nationales du Québec.
India: The
Raja Rammohun Roy Library
Foundation (RRRLF), part of the
Ministry of Culture, is responsible for
registration of Indian publishers, authors, universities, institutions, and
government departments that are responsible for publishing books.
Italy: The privately held company
EDISER srl, owned by
Associazione
Italiana Editori (Italian Publishers Association) is responsible for
issuing ISBNs. The original national prefix 978-88 is reserved for publishing
companies, starting at €49 for a ten-codes block while a new prefix 979-12 is
dedicated to self-publishing authors, at a fixed price of €25 for a single
code.
New Zealand: The
National Library of New Zealand is
responsible for ISBN registrations for publishers who are publishing in New
Zealand.
Pakistan: The
National Library of Pakistan is
responsible for ISBN registrations for Pakistani publishers, authors,
universities, institutions, and government departments that are responsible for
publishing books.
South Africa: The
National Library of South Africa
is responsible for ISBN issuance for South African publishing institutions and
authors.
United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland: The privately held company
Nielsen
Book Services Ltd, part of
Nielsen
Holdings N.V., is responsible for issuing ISBNs in blocks of 10, 100 or
1000. Prices start from £120 (plus VAT) for the smallest block on a standard
turnaround of ten days.
United States: In the United States, the privately held company
R.R.
Bowker issues ISBNs. There is a charge that varies depending upon the
number of ISBNs purchased, with prices starting at $125.00 for a single number.
Access is immediate when requested via their website.
