ISBN Guide 2024: What Is an ISBN and How to Get an ISBN

• Jan 11, 2024
• 6 min read

• Tags: ISBN, Self-Publishing, Traditional Publishing

Have you ever seen the back of a book and wondered what the numbers on its barcode are? Those numbers are a code that forms the ISBN. So what does ISBN stand for? It stands for International Standard Book Number. Every book has an ISBN number from which you can identify its registrant and the specific title, edition, and format. 

Getting a book ISBN is a crucial step in every published writer’s journey—regardless of whether they’re opting for self-publishing companies or going through a traditional publishing house. In this article, we deconstruct what is an ISBN, why you should get one for your book, and at what point of the book publishing process you need to do this. 

What is an ISBN? 

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a uniquely generated number assigned to a published book that acts as a unique identifying number for it.

The ISBN is often used by entities that manage, publish, and distribute books for listing and other logistical purposes. It enables booksellers, publishers, and even readers to find a book with ease. 

After learning about the ISBN meaning, let’s have a look at the parts of an ISBN example:

Looking at the components of ISBN barcode, you can understand what is an ISBN on a book and what it looks like. As far as the question of where to find ISBN on book goes, you can typically find the ISBN of a book on the back cover or the copyright page inside the book.

How to read an ISBN 

An ISBN has 13 digits (since 2007) and has five distinct parts that reveal a key piece of information about the published piece. Every code begins with the letters “ISBN”.

1. Prefix: The code begins with either the numbers 978 or 979, indicating that the published piece you’re looking at is a book. 
2. Group identifier: A group or country identifier tells you which country or geographical region of the world the book has been published in. 
3. Publisher identifier: This section identifies the publisher of the book based on the geographical location and language of the book.
4. Title identifier: This is a unique code given to identify the title, format, and edition of a book.
5. Check digit: The final digit is a single number that validates the entire ISBN. 

So cutting a long story short, the first three parts of the ISBN depend on where you are, who is publishing the book, and what language it is in. What truly makes the ISBN unique is the title identifier. Now, keep that in mind, because we’ll come back to this again soon.

ISBN format: 10 digits or 13?

The ISBN code is a 10-digit code developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and was used for the first time in 1970. Since 2007, ISBN codes have had 13 digits. 

Right below is the break-up of a 10-digit and a 13-digit ISBN code. 

From 1970 to 2007:

Group identifier: Up to five digits long, the group identifier demarcates the geographical location in which the book was published.

Publisher identifier: The publisher identifier identifies the publisher of the book based on the geographical location and language of the book. Up to seven digits long.

Title identifier: The title identifier identifies the book and its edition. Up to six digits long.

Check digit: The final digit of the ISBN code is a calculation of the previous nine digits. The check digit is the last step in providing the book with a unique identification code.  

Since 2007:

Registration group: Identifies the particular country, geographic region, or language area in the ISBN; 1-5 digits.

Registrant element: Identifies the particular publisher or imprint; up to 7 digits.

Publication element: Denotes the particular edition and format of a specific title; up to 6 digits.

Check digit: The final digit that validates the rest of the number.

Every new edition of a book is issued a new ISBN. (Note that reprints of an edition have the same code as the first print.) Translations of a book are also issued new ISBN codes. 

ISBN number example

JK Rowling’s book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first published in 1997. It was published in the US as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. These two books, despite being essentially the same, do not share the same book ISBN number. 

The 10-digit code of The Philosopher’s Stone is 0-7475-3269-9, whereas the 13-digit code of The Sorcerer’s Stone is 059035342X.

Should you get an ISBN for your book?

You know what is an ISBN for books, but are you sure whether you need it or not? The first question, before you say when, is to determine whether you want an ISBN for your book at all. The obvious answer is yes since ISBNs help you track the sales of your book, and even boost it. But like any other step of the publishing process, there are many factors to be considered. If your budget allows you to get an ISBN, and you envision your book dominating best-selling lists, we say go for it! 

Once you’ve decided that you do, think about which editions and formats you need to get an ISBN for. Remember when we said earlier that each format has a different number? Now is the time to take that into consideration, because a print edition and audiobook version of the same book will have different ISBNs. The same goes for translations and editions of books as well.

How to get an ISBN for your book 

As for how to get an ISBN number, there are a few options you can consider. The options differ across countries, since, as you’ve already noticed, the number is specific to the territory. 

• Local governments have agencies that issue ISBNs. Countries like Canada and Belgium have specific public entities responsible for distributing them. (These are generally free of charge!) The official ISBN International website has a database that tells you whether your country has such an agency. 
• In some countries, private entities distribute ISBNs, usually for a cost that means you can make an ISBN purchase. We can do this for you at PaperTrue! 
• You can also get an ISBN from your publisher or your chosen publishing platform. Platforms like Amazon Self-Publishing and IngramSparks, if you have cut a deal with them, can get you an ISBN at a discounted rate or even free of charge! 
• ISBN price will differ depending on the path you choose.

The ISBN plays a pivotal role in the modern publishing world, serving as a unique fingerprint for each book. It simplifies the distribution, purchasing, and cataloging of titles, connecting authors, publishers, and readers globally. 

We hope that this article has shed light on what ISBNs and made your book publishing journey easier. As self-publishing experts, we have compiled some more resources on the topic:

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.