What is an ISBN?

An ISBN, or International Standard Book Number, is a distinct code assigned to books. Originally comprising 10 digits until the end of December 2006, ISBNs have consisted of 13 digits since January 1, 2007. These numbers are generated using a specific mathematical formula and include a check digit for verification.

Structure of an ISBN

An ISBN is divided into five parts, separated by spaces or hyphens. Here are the elements:

• Prefix Element: A 3-digit number, either 978 or 979.
• Registration Group Element: Identifies the country, region, or language area, ranging from 1 to 5 digits.
• Registrant Element: Identifies the publisher and can be up to 7 digits long.
• Publication Element: Specifies the edition and format, up to 6 digits.
• Check Digit: The final digit that validates the ISBN, calculated using a Modulus 10 system with alternating weights of 1 and 3.

Purpose of an ISBN

An ISBN serves as a product identifier, assisting publishers, booksellers, libraries, internet retailers, and other entities in ordering, listing, recording sales, and managing inventory. It identifies the registrant, title, edition, and format of a book.

What an ISBN Identifies

ISBNs are assigned to text-based monographic publications (single publications like books, not journals or newspapers). They can identify any publicly available book, whether sold or freely distributed. Additionally, individual sections of books (such as chapters) or separate issues/articles from journals and periodicals can also have ISBNs. Each different format of a publication (e.g., paperback, EPUB, PDF) should have a unique ISBN.

Legal and Copyright Information

An ISBN is purely an identifier and does not provide legal or copyright protection. In some countries, however, ISBN usage is legally required for publications.

Who Should Apply for an ISBN?

The publisher should apply for the ISBN. The publisher is defined as the entity responsible for initiating the publication’s production and typically bears the financial risk. This could be an organization, company, or an individual author self-publishing their work. For specific regulations, consult the national ISBN agency in your country.

Additional Notes

For further details on qualifying products and the scope of ISBNs, you can refer to the ISBN guidelines. If you are a publisher, it’s recommended to contact your national ISBN agency well in advance to ensure compliance with any detailed publishing legislation.