On the back of your books you have likely seen a number above the barcode labeled "ISBN." This is a unique number used by publishers, libraries and bookstores to identify book copies and editions. The number is less useful to the average reader, but we can all learn something from a book using the ISBN.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Using the ISBN
Step 1. Find the ISBN code
The ISBN code for the issue should be found on the back of the book. It will generally be above the barcode. It will always be identified with the ISBN prefix and will have either 10 or 13 digits.
- The ISBN should also be available on the book's copyright page.
- It is divided into four parts, each separated by a hyphen. For example, the ISBN for the classic cookbook The Joy of Cooking is 0-7432-4626-8.
- Books published before 2007 were given 10-digit ISBN numbers. As of 2007, 13-digit identifiers have been granted.
Step 2. Determine the publisher
One of the most interesting things you can learn from an ISBN book is the scale of the publisher's operations. The 10- and 13-digit ISBNs have their own ways of identifying the publisher and the issue. If the publisher identifier is long but the issue number is only one or two digits long, the publisher only plans to circulate a handful of books, and the book may even be self-published.
Conversely, if the issue number is long and the publisher number is short, the book was published by a major publisher
Step 3. Use an ISBN to self-publish
If you plan to sell your manuscript in bookstores, you need an ISBN, even if you are publishing it yourself. You can buy an ISBN number at ISBN.org. You will need to purchase an ISBN number for each issue you plan to publish and for different editions of it, including the hardcover and paperback versions. The more ISBN numbers you buy at the same time, the cheaper it will be.
- Each country has its own organization that awards ISBN numbers.
- A single ISBN number costs $ 125, 10 costs $ 250, 100 costs $ 575, and 1000 costs $ 1000.
Part 2 of 3: Interpreting a 10-digit ISBN
Step 1. Look at the first series of numbers to get information about the language
The first series indicates the language and region in which the book was published. 0 indicates that the book was published in the US and 1 indicates that the book was published in another English-speaking country.
For English books, this series will normally be single digits but may be longer for other languages
Step 2. Look at the second series of numbers for information about the publisher
The 0 will be followed by a dash. The series of numbers between the first and second hyphens is the identifier of the "publisher". Each publisher has its own unique series of ISBNs that will be in the code of each book it publishes.
Step 3. Look at the third series of numbers for information about the item
Between the second and third hyphens of the ISBN you will find the identifier of the issue. Each edition of a book produced by a particular publisher will have its own distinctive identifier for the issue.
Step 4. Look at the last number to check the code
The last number is the verification number. It must be predetermined by a mathematical calculation of the preceding digits. This is used to verify that the previous digits have not been misread.
- Sometimes the last digit is an X. This is 10 in Roman numerals.
- The verification number is calculated using a modulo 10 algorithm.
Part 3 of 3: Interpreting a 13-digit ISBN
Step 1. Look at the first three numbers to determine when the book was published
The first three digits are a prefix that changes over time. Since the implementation of the 13-digit ISBN, this series has always been only 978 or 979.
Step 2. Look at the second series of numbers for information about the language
Between the first and second hyphens of the ISBN you will find the country and language information. This series has between 1 and 5 numbers and represents the language, country and region of the specimen.
For books published in the US, this number should be 0. For books published in other English-speaking countries, it should be 1
Step 3. Look at the third series of numbers for information about the publisher
Between the second and third indent of the ISBN you will find the publisher's information. This series can have up to seven digits. Each publisher has its own distinctive ISBN number.
Step 4. Look at the fourth series of numbers for information about the item
Between the third and fourth indent of the ISBN you will find the information of the issue. This can range from 1 to 6 digits. Each copy and edition will have its own distinctive number.
Step 5. Look at the last digit to check the code
The last number is the verification number. It must be predetermined by a mathematical calculation of the preceding digits. This is used to verify that the previous digits have not been misread.
- Sometimes the last digit is an X. This is 10 in Roman numerals.
- The verification number is calculated using a modulo 10 algorithm.