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Freelancer's FAQ
ISBN and U.P.C. Codes
What Is an ISBN?
ISBN - The International Standard Book Number.
The ISBN is a machine-readable identification number, which marks
any book unmistakably. "The purpose of the ISBN is 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." 159 countries and territories are officially
ISBN members. ISBNs are assigned in the United States by the
U.S. ISBN Agency. R.R. Bowker is the independent agent in the U.S. for
this system.
The ISBN itself is a 10-digit number that is divided into four parts
separated by hyphens.
The first part of the ISBN is a group or country identifier. The second part is a publisher identifier. The third part is a title identifier. The last digit is a check digit used to validate the ISBN. In other words, the ISBN is a code that identifies your book around the world.
Sample: 0-89658-314-7.
In this sample:
- The first digit (0-) means the book was published in the United States.
- The second group of numbers (89658-) identifies the publisher. 89658 is the code assigned to Voyageur Press of Stillwater, MN.
- The third group of numbers (314-) identifies the specific book. In this example, 0-89658-314 is the 1995 hardcopy edition of a book called Frogs.
- The last number (7) is used to validate the preceding numbers.
ISBNs are coordinated worldwide... Once an ISBN is assigned, the
information must be reported by the publisher the firm R.R. Bowker for
listing in the United State's ISBN database.
ONCE ASSIGNED, AN ISBN CAN NEVER BE REUSED.
An ISBN can never be reused and every revision of a title must have a new ISBN. That means if a book is available in both hardcover and softcover, both versions have their own ISBN. For example, the softcover edition of Frogs (0-89658-427-5) has a different ISBN than the hardcover edition (0-89658-314-7).
Price changes do not require a new ISBN.
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But, Do I Need an ISBN for my Self-Published Material?
Must you have an ISBN for your book? No, there is no legal requirement for having an ISBN. Whether or not you apply for an ISBN depends mostly on how you plan to sell your material. If you are going to sell your material at workshops, through direct mail, or over the Internet, then you are not likely to need an ISBN.
But if you plan on selling your material to retail chains, libraries, or specialty stores, you will probably need an ISBN. In some cases, catalogers also require ISBNs. Why? These businesses rely on the ISBN for tracking inventory, ordering, and general identification.
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What Is the Universal Product Code?
The Universal Product Code (U.P.C.), commonly known as the bar code, is a computerized product identification system. Basically, bar codes are those black-and-white bars read by symbol ls4278 scanners at checkout counters. The ISBN is not the same as a U.P.C. but it can be translated into bar code format. In fact, retail chains almost always require both an ISBN and a Universal Product Code (U.P.C.). There are several bar code film master suppliers that translate ISBNs into bar codes.
To find a list of bar code suppliers, by state, go to:
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How Do I Apply for an ISBN?
Publishers, audiocassette and video producers, software producers, and museums or associations with publishing programs can request an ISBN. Remember—if you are self-publishing, you are a publisher.
To download an ISBN application in print format, or to submit an ISBN
form electronically, go to http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/application.asp.
If you are applying for an ISBN electronically, you can only use this
electronic application form.
To find a list of frequently asked questions about the ISBN, visit this
site: Frequently Asked Questions about the ISBN http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/isbnqa.asp
Receiving just your ISBNs does NOT guarantee title listings. "Once ISBNs
have been assigned to products they should be reported to R.R. Bowker as
the database of record for the ISBN Agency. Companies are eligible for a
free listing in various directories such as Books in Print, Words on
Cassette, The Software Encyclopedia, Bowker's Complete Video Directory,
etc."
Remember--receiving an ISBN does NOT guarantee title listings. You must
submit your title information to have your books listed in the Books in
Print database. Book titles can be registered with Books in Print at
www.bowkerlink.com
Besides the website, the United States ISBN Agency can also be contacted at:
U.S. ISBN Agency
630 Central Avenue
New Providence, NJ 07974
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How Expensive is an ISBN Application?
As of Feb. 2002, the application listed the following fees.
A NON-REFUNDABLE processing service charge. (Note: Priority processing
has an additional processing surcharge.)
ISBN PREFIX
BLOCK
10 ISBNs
100 ISBNs
1,000 ISBNs
10,000 ISBNs
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REGULAR
FEE
$225.00
$800.00
$1,200.00
$3,000.00
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PRIORITY
FEE
$300.00
$875.00
$1,275.00
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040103 Friday, April 22, 2011
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