Book Talk: All About ISBNs
Every product on the shelves, from food to clothes to books, has a specific numerical marker. The names for these vary depending on the product (such as SKUs or UPCs), but for books, they are called ISBNs. All books have ISBNs—yes, even self-published books—and authors going the independent route usually need to secure their own.
Although fairly straightforward, the world of ISBNs can be confusing if you’ve never considered them in such depth. Below, I break down what they are, why you need them, and where to get your own. By the end, you’ll be an ISBN expert!
What Is an ISBN?
First, a definition: ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a numerical sequence that identifies a specific book. This makes it easy for publishers, booksellers, librarians, and readers to locate the exact title they wish. Knowing the ISBN comes in handy when you’re trying to find a book with the same title as another (there is a funny, yet cautionary, story of the time Emily Schultz received Stephen King’s royalties thanks to a mix-up over their books Joyland!), or a specific edition (like the 75th-anniversary edition of The Little Prince compared to the 25th).
The ISBN itself indicates in which country a book was published, the publisher, as well as its title, format, and other data. Specifically, it contains
the EAN (European Article Number), which is either 978 or 979 (and means all books are from “Bookland”!);
the registration group, indicating the country/region where the book was published;
the registrant element, indicating the publisher (this is you if self-publishing!);
the publication element, indicating the title, format, edition, and author; and,
the check digit, which ensures the ISBN is correct.
Although an ISBN is registered in the country where the author resides, once assigned to your book, it is valid worldwide.
How Is an ISBN Different from a Barcode?
While the ISBN is contained within the barcode, they are not the same. Rather, a barcode is simply another type of identifier that contains a book’s data: ISBN, author, title, publisher, and so on. They are required for all print books. Retailers scan these barcodes and use the information to populate their systems and track which books are sold or returned. Like ISBNS, they are not strictly necessary for eBooks as there is no physical copy to scan.
When self-publishing, you don’t need to worry much about barcodes as the platform onto which you upload your manuscript should automatically supply one for all print books—just make sure there is enough room on the back of your cover!
When Is an ISBN Required?
All print books (hardcover or paperback) require an ISBN. Without it, retailers and readers will have difficulty finding your book, and who wants that! But remember: You need a separate ISBN for each format. You cannot “switch” or “update” an ISBN once it’s assigned. So, if you release your debut in hardcover and then decide to put out a paperback version six months later, you’ll need a new ISBN for the paperback. You would also need a new ISBN if you decided to reissue the book with a substantial amount of new or updated content, or if you wanted to release a special edition.
An ISBN is not typically required for eBooks or audiobooks if they are available directly from your website via a download. Also, most online platforms do not require eBooks to be assigned an ISBN; rather, they will track sales in their system with a unique code.
But do be careful! Some platforms, or even countries (like Canada), require an ISBN for both audiobooks and eBooks for them to be sold. Of course, you can simply get one for peace of mind, so readers can more easily find your books, and so you can more easily track your sales! Another benefit of obtaining your own ISBN for each format (and not simply using the one doled out by Amazon, Draft2Digital, or the like) is that you aren’t restricted to one platform, nor would you have to find a new one if you decide to distribute more widely. It’s also a good idea if you want full control over your brand and creative work, as whoever owns (purchases) the ISBN is technically the publisher.
To recap, you need a new ISBN if
you publish the same title in different formats (paperback, hardcover, eBook, audiobook),
you change the trim size of your book (5 x 8 paperback to 6 x 9 paperback),
you decide to republish the book under another new name or title, or
you make substantial changes to the text or story (roughly more than 10%) as it is then considered a reissue.
You do not need a new ISBN if
you change or update the price,
you change or update the cover (unless it is accompanying a new edition),
you correct a few minor typos before a reprint.
How To Get an ISBN
Each country will have its own ISBN agency, so all you have to do is find their website, follow the steps, and voilà! Your book has an ISBN. Of course, each country will have different processes and requirements—and different costs, if there is one! In general, the issuing body should ask for the
format of book,
title of book,
projected pub date, and
author name and contact details.
They may also ask for the name of the publisher. You can insert your own name or that of a publishing company or imprint you’ve created, or write “independently published.”
To purchase an ISBN, US residents can get theirs through R.R. Bowker and those in the UK and Ireland through Nielsen. In Canada, authors can visit Collections Canada.
As for the cost, that varies depending on the issuing country. In Canada, and from print-on-demand services like Amazon or BookBaby, ISBNs are free. In the US, however, there is a cost if you want your own ISBN—which you can buy singly or in a bundle for a discount. At the time of writing, a single ISBN was $125 USD. Remember to check your country’s process and budget accordingly.
I hope you now understand what an ISBN is, and its function. Please share if you found this valuable, and please leave any questions below! Thanks as always for reading, and don’t forget to keep creating!
(Cover photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels.)