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APPLICATION OF ISBN
General
A separate ISBN
must be assigned to every title, or edition of a title by each
publisher, but NOT to an unchanged impression or unchanged
reprint of the same title in the same format by the same
publisher. Revised editions require a new ISBN. A price change
does not call for a new ISBN. Changes of the format induce a new
ISBN. The same title being published in a series and
individually is treated as two different editions.
Facsimile reprints
A separate ISBN
must be assigned to a facsimile reprint produced by a different
publisher.
Publications in different product forms
Different product forms of a publication (e.g., hardback,
paperback, Braille, audiobook, online electronic publication)
require separate ISBNs. Where electronic publications are made
available in different formats (e.g. .lit, .pdf, .html, .pdb)
each separately available format shall be assigned a unique
ISBN.
Loose-leaf publications
If a publication appears in loose-leaf form an ISBN is assigned
to identify an edition at a given time. Individual issues of
additions or replacement sheets will also be given an ISBN, when
they are separately stocked.
Multi-volume works
An ISBN must be assigned to the whole set of volumes of a
multi-volume work; also, if individual volumes of the set are
sold separately, each volume must be assigned its own ISBN. Thus
the individual processing and sale of single volumes is made
possible. Even when multi-volume works are only sold as a set,
the assignment of ISBN to each volume is advisable: It
facilitates the handling of returns (damaged volumes) and the
processing of shipments when not all volumes are published or
distributed at the same time.
Backlist
A publisher is required to number all backlist publications and
publish the ISBNs in catalogues. The ISBN must also be printed
in the first available reprint of a backlist title.
Collaborative publications
A publication issued as a co-edition or joint imprint with other
publishers is assigned an ISBN by the publisher in charge of
distribution. Other co-publishers may assign their ISBNs if they
want to.
Books sold or distributed by agents
(Except for a) this applies only to countries that are not yet
participating in the system)
a. As the ISBN standard states, a particular edition, published
by a particular publisher, receives only one ISBN. This ISBN
must be retained no matter where, or by whom; the book is
distributed or sold.
b. A book imported by an exclusive distributor or sole agent
from an area which is not in the ISBN system and which has no
ISBNs assigned to it, may be assigned an ISBN by the exclusive
distributor.
c. Books imported by an exclusive distributor or sole agent to
which a new title page, bearing the imprint of the exclusive
distributor, has been added in place of the title page of the
original publisher, are to be given a new ISBN by the exclusive
distributor or sole agent. The ISBN of the original publisher
should also be given.
d. A book imported by several distributors from an area not in
the ISBN system and which has no ISBNs assigned to it, may be
assigned an ISBN by the group agency responsible for those
distributors.
Acquisition of one
publisher by another
A publisher acquiring another publishing house must continue to
use the originally assigned ISBN until the book is reprinted
under the new company imprint.
Acquisition of complete stock of a publisher
A publisher acquiring the complete stock of another company must
use the original publisher's assigned ISBN until the new company
reprints under its own imprint.
Publishers with more than one place of publication
a. A publisher operating in several places which are listed
together in the imprint of the book will assign only one ISBN to
the book.
b. A publisher operating separate and distinct offices or
branches in different places may have a publisher identifier for
each office or branch. However, each book published is to be
assigned only one ISBN. This ISBN should be assigned by the
office or branch responsible for publication.
Register of ISBN
It is the responsibility of all publishers to inform their group
agency or the organization responsible for the maintenance of
title registration of the ISBNs that have been assigned to
published and forthcoming books. When the publisher does not
take this responsibility, the group agency or the organization
responsible for the maintenance of title registration is
authorized to maintain the ISBN register of this publisher on
its own initiative.
ISBN can never be re-used
An ISBN, once assigned, can never be re-used, under any
circumstances. This is of the utmost importance to avoid
confusion. If, through a clerical error, a number is incorrectly
assigned, the number must be deleted from the list of useable
numbers and must never be assigned to another title. Publishers
should advise the group agency of the number(s) deleted and of
the titles to which they were erroneously assigned.
ISBN FOR ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS
The ISBN also applies to electronic publications:
Offline items, like floppy disks and CD-ROMs, are treated like
any other publication.
Online items may be completed and finalised publications, like
a textbook on the Internet. In this case an ISBN would suffice.
An online publication may be a bibliographic or fact database
that is subject to change any second. This would be comparable
to an encyclopedia or dictionary which is also constantly
updated in other media, without each little amendment leading to
a new edition or new ISBN. Only significant and/or structural
changes (including title changes) would require new ISBNs.
Linked material (e.g. hypertext) would only be considered
covered by the same ISBN if the related material is actually
part of the publication.
If an online publication is available under different
operating systems and/or command languages, each «edition» would
require a separate ISBN.
ISBN for eligible software products:
An ISBN is used to identify a specific software product. If
there is more than one version (perhaps versions adapted for
different machines, carrier media or language version), each
version must have a separate ISBN.
1. When a software product is updated, revised or amended and
the changes are sufficiently substantial for the product to be
called a new edition, a new ISBN must be assigned.
2. A relaunch of an existing product, even in new packaging,
where there is no basic difference in the performance of the new
and the old product, does not justify a new ISBN, and the
original ISBN must be used.
3. When software is accompanied by a manual which is useful only
as an adjunct to the software, the software needs the manual
before it can be operated, and they are sold as a package, one
ISBN must be assigned to cover both items.
4. When two or more items in a software package can be used
separately, or are sold separately as well as together, then
a) the package as a whole must have an ISBN
b) each item in the package must have an ISBN.
An ISBN should be assigned to a software product
independently of its physical form (e.g. if software is only
available from a remote database from where it is downloaded to
the customer.)
As well as identifying the product itself, an ISBN identifies
the producer or manufacturer; it should not be used to identify
a distributor or wholesaler of the product.
PRINTING OF ISBN
General
The ISBN must appear on the item itself. This is essential for
the efficient running of the system.
The ISBN must appear:
on the verso of the title page (copyright page)
on the lower section of the outside back cover
on the foot of the title page, if there is no space elsewhere
on the bottom of the back dust jacket, or any other protective
case, or wrapper
on the base of the spine (only if the product is a paperback
book)
on the label of the container if the publication is issued in
it (cassette, diskette, CD-ROM etc.)
on the title display, or the first display (CD-ROM, internet
publications)
on the credit titles (film, video)
The ISBN should always be printed in type large enough to be
easily legible (i.e. 9 point or larger).
ISBN in bar-coded form
The rapid, worldwide expansion of bar code scanning has brought
into prominence the agreement reached between the EAN
International (EAN), the Uniform Code Council (UCC), and the
International ISBN and International ISMN Agency, which allows
the ISBN to be encoded into an EAN-13 bar code. This makes the
ISBN an international identifier compatible with the worldwide
bar coding scheme.
Representing the ISBN in an EAN-13 bar code symbology must be
done in accordance with ISO/IEC 15420 (bar code symbology
specification EAN/UPC) that requires the usage of EAN-13 symbols
to be in line with the recommendations of EAN and UCC. An EAN
bar code consists of thirteen digits.
An example of an ISBN encoded in an EAN-13 bar code symbol is
shown below:
ISBN 978-1-873671-00-9
When used in a bar code, the ISBN must be displayed in human
readable form immediately above the EAN-13 bar code symbol,
preceded by ISBN.
Further information on the introduction and use of the EAN-13
bar code symbol is provided by the ISBN group agencies and the
International ISBN Agency. Group agencies are encouraged to
cooperate directly with the EAN organisations on a national or
regional level.
The recommended location of the EAN-13 bar code symbol for
publications is the lower right quadrant of the back, near the
spine.
THE FUNCTIONS OF A GROUP/NATIONAL AGENCY
To promote participation in the ISBNs system within its area.
To manage and administer the affairs of the group.
To decide, in co-operation with publishers and their
representative agencies, the range of publisher identifiers
required.
To allocate publisher identifiers to eligible publishers and
maintain a register of publishers and their identifiers.
To decide, in consultation with publishers and their
representative agencies, which publishers will assign numbers to
their own titles, and which will have numbers assigned to their
titles by the group agency.
To advise publishers on the correct and proper implementation
of the system.
To provide materials and resources that ensure the proper
implementation of the ISBN standard.
To make available computer print-outs of ISBNs to publishers
numbering their own books with check digits already calculated.
To inform publishers of any invalid or duplicate ISBN assigned
by them.
To provide technical advice and assistance to publishers and
ensure that standards and approved procedures are observed in
the group.
To encourage and promote the Bookland EAN bar code format.
To encourage and promote the importance of the ISBN for a
proper listing of titles with book listing and bibliographical
agencies.
To maintain liaison with all elements of the book industry and
introduce new publishers to the system.
To assist the book industry in the use of the ISBN in computer
systems.
To handle relations with the International ISBN Agency on
behalf of all the publishers in the group.
To keep and make available the files of assigned publisher
identifiers and title numbers. If the National Bibliography
fulfils the latter task, the agency does not have to duplicate
this effort.
To report regularly to the International ISBN Agency.
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