Publishing Tips: The 4-11 On The ISBN
October 7, 2010 
55 Comments
When HTML, CSS and javascript form part of code essential for anything online and web development, an ISBN is an essential code to any self-publisher. Let’s look at the ISBN closely.
What is an ISBN?
The ISBN is short for International Standard Book Number. It’s a thirteen digit number uniquely identifying books or book like products published internationally. It allows efficient marketing of products by booksellers, wholesalers, libraries, universities and distributors.
Do you need to own the ISBN?
Yes you do. The ISBN identifies you as the publisher. Yes, you are a publisher, even if it’s an independent one. The only difference between you and Random House Publishers is the quantity of titles. When it’s assigned to your book, it stays with that edition for life, even if you change printers, distributors, wholesalers or retailers. So, orders coming through ten years from now will go directly to you.
Where can you get an ISBN?
You can get an ISBN by buying it directly from R.R. Bowker who is the licensed agency to sell them in America. When outside the Us you may consult the International ISBN website to find the agency assigned to your country. We here in South Africa are privileged as we can simply get in touch with the National Library and request one.
An ISBN is available single or in blocks of ten. It is better to buy the bulk as every edition (second, third and fourth) will need a new ISBN. You will also, as you become more successful, publish more and more books until you hit that Midas bestseller. When you gained some experience and you venture out to help a friend or colleague publish their book, you have some ISBN number ling around to assign to your new joint venture.
Can’t you just get a single ISBN?
Of course you can, they are available from R.R Bowker or a handful others. You can get a list of the many authorised agents on the R.R Bowker website. Buy form these vendors and preferably not from a vanity press. They make you believe that you the ISBN is registered in your name and you retain the rights. What happens is that you actually use one of their numbers but you don’t own it. So, when orders come through the owner of the ISBN get it. Then, it’s a shlep when you want to change publishers and all your marketing has been for nothing.
What is an ISBN for?
ISBN numbers are assigned to the book you published and connect the publishing company with the book they published. If you don’t own the ISBN found in the sleeve or on the cover of the book, you don’t own the rights to the book. When people order the book in the future, the order will go t the publishing company that owns the ISBN.
If you want to be considered a self-publisher or a publishing company, you will have to own the ISBN listed in your book. Beware of companies that assist self-publishers and claim to assign the ISBN to their book .As mentioned before, when any orders come through, the orders will go to them and not you.
If you started a publishing company and published your first book, assigned your first ISBN to it, do back to R.R Bowker or the agency that assigned it to you and list your book in their books in print. This directory is very important as it’s used by many bookstores. Therefore, it is advisable to put your ISBN on all promotional literature.
Where does he ISBN go?
Your ISBN goes on the copyright page of a hard/softback of your book, also on the lower portion of the back cover of the softbackbook above the bar code. It’s translated into a globally compatible bar code called a Bookland EAN (European Article Number. All bookstore chains and smaller bookshops use this bar code to scan book products at the checkout counter. Placing the number on your book is the book designers task by using a software program. This doesn’t mean retailers have to charge the full price, Using Bookland they can tie any price to it they seem fit as that will show on the book when it is scanned.
Now that you have the 411 on the ISBN I hope you better understand what is its use and why it is an important part of the publishing process.
Stop dreaming and make it happen!
Ivin
I want to publish my first book soon. Your post helped me a lot to clarify the basics of what ISBN is! Thank you.
Thank Ronald. Take a look at some of the other features and posts, they will really help you out.
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