**1. History and Overview of ISBN:**
– The SBN was a commercial system using nine-digit code numbers for book identification.
– The ISBN format was conceived in 1967 in the UK by David Whitaker and in 1968 in the US by Emery Koltay.
– The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the ISO and published in 1970.
– Each edition and variation of a publication must have a unique ISBN.
– ISBNs are thirteen digits long if assigned after 2007 and ten digits long if assigned before.
– An ISBN consists of parts like prefix element, registration group, registrant, publication element, and check digit.
**2. Issuing Process and Registration Group Element:**
– ISBN issuance is country-specific and done by the ISBN registration agency of that country.
– ISBN ranges are based on the publishing profile of the country.
– The ISBN registration group element is a 1-to-5-digit number valid within a prefix element like 978 or 979.
– Registration groups are primarily allocated within the 978 prefix.
– The US had 3.9 million registered ISBNs in 2020, making it the largest user of ISBNs.
– Other top users in 2020 were the Republic of Korea, Germany, China, the UK, and Indonesia.
**3. Check Digits and Conversion:**
– Check digit must range from 0 to 10 for ISBN-10.
– ISBN-10 check digit method detects common errors.
– ISBN-13 check digit calculation is based on a specific algorithm described in the International ISBN Agency’s official user manual.
– Converting a 10-digit ISBN to a 13-digit ISBN involves adding 978 at the beginning and recalculating the final checksum using the ISBN-13 algorithm.
**4. Publisher Codes and Errors in Usage:**
– National ISBN agency assigns registrant element and series of ISBNs to the publisher.
– Different publisher codes can lead to the same check digit.
– Publishers and libraries may have different policies regarding the use of ISBN check digits, leading to identification issues for books.
– Instances of shared ISBNs between different books can cause confusion for libraries, booksellers, and readers.
**5. Global Impact and References:**
– The ISBN system plays a vital role in the global publishing industry.
– Organizations like WIPO and NISO recognize the importance of ISBN.
– Various publications provide historical information about ISBN.
– Different countries have their own ISBN agencies and regulations.
– The International ISBN Agency offers detailed manuals and FAQs.
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier that is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase or receive ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency.
 A 13-digit ISBN, 978-3-16-148410-0, as represented by an EAN-13 bar code | |
| Acronym | ISBN |
|---|---|
| Organisation | International ISBN Agency |
| Introduced | 1970 |
| No. of digits | 13 (formerly 10) |
| Check digit | Weighted sum |
| Example | 978-3-16-148410-0 |
| Website | isbn-international |
An ISBN is assigned to each separate edition and variation (except reprintings) of a publication. For example, an e-book, a paperback and a hardcover edition of the same book must each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is ten digits long if assigned before 2007, and thirteen digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007. The method of assigning an ISBN is nation-specific and varies between countries, often depending on how large the publishing industry is within a country.
The initial ISBN identification format was devised 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 9-digit SBN code can be converted to a 10-digit ISBN by prefixing it with a zero).
Privately published books sometimes appear without an ISBN. The International ISBN Agency sometimes assigns such books ISBNs on its own initiative.
Another identifier, the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), identifies periodical publications such as magazines and newspapers. The International Standard Music Number (ISMN) covers musical scores.