ISBN

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique numeric commercial book identifier. Established in 1970, the ISBN is used internationally to identify books and other non-periodical publications. Each ISBN is a 13-digit number (previously 10 digits before 2007) that uniquely identifies a book, allowing for efficient cataloging and sales tracking.

Total number of ISBN registrations in 2020

History

The ISBN system was conceived in 1967 by David Whitaker and Emery Koltay. It was based on the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) system created in the United Kingdom in 1966. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the ISBN as an international standard, ISO 2108, in 1970.

Structure

An ISBN is divided into five parts of variable length, each separated by hyphens or spaces:

1. Prefix element: This is a 3-digit code that is either 978 or 979, indicating the book industry. 2. Registration group element: This identifies the country, geographical region, or language area participating in the ISBN system. 3. Registrant element: This identifies the particular publisher or imprint. 4. Publication element: This identifies the specific edition and format of a specific title. 5. Check digit: This is a single digit that validates the rest of the number.

Diagram showing the structure of an ISBN

Assignment

ISBNs are 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 will each have a different ISBN. The assignment of ISBNs is handled by the ISBN registration agency in each country.

Usage

ISBNs are used by publishers, booksellers, libraries, and other participants in the book supply chain for ordering, listing, sales records, and stock control. The ISBN is also used in library cataloging and is a key element in the metadata of a book.

Transition from 10 to 13 digits

In 2007, the ISBN system transitioned from 10 digits to 13 digits to expand the number of available ISBNs and to align with the European Article Number (EAN) system. The transition was necessary due to the increasing number of publications and the need for a larger pool of unique identifiers.

Related pages

• International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
• Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
• Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN)