13-digit ISBN

The International Standard Book Number, or ISBN, is an identification system that is very familiar to book publishers, library patrons, and, of course, library media specialists.  The primary purpose of the ISBN is to promote the trading of book products.  When library media specialists search for a specific book or catalog record by title or author and have no luck, they immediately know to search by the ISBN.  The ISBN is international in scope and is used for the easy identification of print and electronic resources.  However, while the ISBN is a key identifier of resources, it is also a critical element of integrated library systems.  The information following details the past, present, and future of the ISBN and its impact on book publishers and libraries everywhere.        

Based on a 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) system developed in the United Kingdom in 1966, the ISBN is a 10-digit number that was developed in 1970 by the International Organization for Standardization to “establish and identify one title or edition of a title from one specific publisher and is unique to that edition, allowing for more efficient marketing of products by booksellers, libraries, universities, wholesalers and distributors” (International Standard Book Number Agency, 2008, ¶ 2).  It uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally.  According to Library and Archives Canada, International Standard Book Numbers are “assigned to books, pamphlets, educational kits, microforms, CD-ROMs, and other digital and electronic publications” (¶ 1, 2008). 

Until the addition of 13-digit ISBN in 2007, the four-part format of the ISBN remained unchanged since 1970.  The new 13-digit ISBN, begun in full adoption on January 1, 2007, now consists of a five-part format of variable length that is separated by a hyphen.  The five parts include: 1) The current ISBN-13 will be prefixed by “978”; 2) Group or country identifier which identifies a national or geographic grouping of publishers; 3) Publisher identifier which identifies a particular publisher within a group; 4) Title identifier which identifies a particular title or edition of a title; and, 5) Check digit is the single digit at the end of the ISBN which validates the ISBN (International Standard Book Number Agency, 2008).  As soon as the 10-digit ISBNs are all used, the 13-digit ISBN will carry the “979” prefix to identify items without a corresponding 10-digit ISBN.  According to the Book Industry Study Group (2008), the transition from 10-digit to 13-digit ISBNs occurred “in order to expand the numbering capacity of the ISBN system and alleviate numbering shortages in certain areas of the world” (¶ 1).  This transition also aligns the book industry’s numbering system with the Global Trade Identification Number, or GTIN, which serves as an umbrella for data structures, usually bar codes, that identifies trade items.  The GTIN is the standard for the bar code number that is printed on the back of the book (GTIN Info, 2008).    In the United States, the U.S. ISBN Agency is responsible for assigning the ISBN Publisher Prefix to publishers with residences or offices in the United States or to those publishing in the United States. 

Transitioning to the new ISBN standard requires that all systems processing ISBNs accommodate both the 10-digit standard and the 13-digit standard.  This includes both library automation systems and library automation vendors.  All libraries, including small, public school libraries or union libraries, are affected.  The largest United States library, the Library of Congress, prepared in advance for the new move.  In addition to the 10-digit ISBNs, the Library of Congress began adding 13-digit ISBNs to the bibliographic records they issue as early as October 1, 2004.  As a whole book publishers were given two years, from 2005 to 2007 to implement the 13-digit ISBN fully into their businesses.  According to Shultz-Jones (2006), libraries should be aware of concerns in several areas regarding ISBNs, including acquisitions, cataloging entry, search systems, and interoperability with remote information sources.  The ISBN is vital in the acquisitions process as it identifies the material being bought.  In addition, when used in some library management systems, the ISBN serves as validation of data entry, especially when used in a MARC record, a purchase order, or with inter-library loan.  ISBNs also play a prominent role in indexing and search queries in cataloging, acquisitions, and using the online public access catalog (OPAC) as well as record identification and matching.  Library management systems often also contain ISBNs when linking to and from internal and external content sources.  Even the bar code scanners are affected by the transition in standards of the ISBN.  Library media specialists need to check their systems to ensure optimum performance in regards to the new transition among ISBNs.   

            As the primary purpose of the ISBN it to promote the trading of book products, the ISBN plays a prominent role in the lives of libraries, library media specialists, book publishers, and the day-to-day consumer.  The ISBN plays a critical part in an effective integrated library management system.  However, recognition of the importance of the ISBN goes unnoticed by regular library patron or book store customer.  As libraries and businesses continue to adapt to the introduction of the 13-digit ISBN, it is important that all elements affected by the transition from the 10-digit number to the 13-digit number are given importance to provide a smooth and seamless transition for all who love to read.  This will be important in the future as, one day, there could be a great possibility of transitioning from a 13-digit ISBN to a 14-digit ISBN!

References

Book Industry Study Group. (2007). Are you ready for ISBN-13?  Retrieved October 16,

            2008, from http://www.bisg.org/isbn-13/index.html

GTIN Info. (2008). What is GTIN?  Retrieved October 20, 2008 from

http://www.gtin.info/

International Standard Book Number Agency.  (2008). Frequently asked questions about

the ISBN.  Retrieved October 16, 2008, from http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/isbnqa.asp

Library and Archives Canada. (2008). International standard book number (ISBN).

Retrieved October 18, 2008, from http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/isn/041011-1010-e.html

Library of Congress.(n.d.).  Library of Congress plan to accommodate 13-digit ISBN.

Retrieved October 20, 2008, from http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/13digit.html

Schultz-Jones, B. (2006).  An automation primer for school library media centers and

            small libraries.  Worthington, Ohio: Linworth Publishing, Inc.