The 13-Digit ISBN: What it Means For You

To be a successful publisher, you must be a knowledgeable publisher. The publishing world is constantly changing. Being aware of the changes that affect your publishing business is essential. R.R. Bowker’s change to a 13-digit ISBN is an important change to be aware of and this article will help you understand how it affects you.

As the number of books published annually continues to grow, the number of 10-digit ISBNs available is beginning to run out. To address this problem, the International Standards Organization Working Group is recommending that a uniform 13-digit ISBN code be used by publishers worldwide.

Thus, on January 1, 2007, R.R. Bowker will begin to distribute the 13-digit ISBN code. Bowker will first use their remaining 10-digit ISBN numbers, converting each to a 13-digit number using a 978 prefix (as used in the existing EAN Barcode for 10-digit ISBNs). This new 13-digit ISBN with the 978 prefix will be identical to the embedded 13-digit number in the EAN Barcode for the existing 10-digit ISBN.

When Bowker runs out of their existing supply of 10-digit ISBNs, Bowker will switch to a 13-digit ISBN beginning with a 979 prefix. When assigned to publishers, these new 979 prefix ISBNs will not contain the same publisher identifier number as the previous 10-digit and 13-digit 978 prefix ISBNs used (1-[publisher identifier number] or 978-1-[publisher identifier number]). Note that the new 13-digit ISBN numbers will be identical to the 13-digit EAN Barcode number.

On the positive note for small publishers, Bowker feels that one of the reasons they are running out of 10-digit ISBN numbers and must make the switch to 13-digit ISBNs is because in the past they have allocated ISBN numbers too generously. With this change, Bowker will assign smaller blocks of ISBN numbers to publishers come January 1, 2007.

Here is what this transition to a 13-digit ISBN means to you, the small publisher, for the materials you will be publishing from this date forward.

Books Published Prior to January 1, 2007

The good news is that books published prior to January 1, 2007 must still carry a 10-digit ISBN. Bowker has set the “sunrise date” for their 13-digit ISBN transition as January 1, 2005 for which they are recommending that all books printed after this date carry a 13-digit EAN Barcode with the 10-digit ISBN printed on top of the barcode properly hyphenated (this is what most publishers currently use on their books).

Since publishers will be holding stock marked with 10-digit ISBNs for years to come, Bowker also recommends that publishers print both the 10- and 13-digit ISBNs on the title page verso in the following style:

ISBN-13: 978-1-873671-00-9

ISBN-10: 1-873671-00-8

The back cover should contain the EAN Barcode with the 10-digit ISBN printed above the barcode and the 13-digit ISBN embedded in the barcode (as is currently done with EAN Barcodes).

If you want to convert your current 10-digit ISBN number to a 13-digit ISBN number so that you can print it on the title page verso of an upcoming publication, Bowker has provided an ISBN conversion tool at www.isbn.org. This tool allows publishers to convert an existing 10-digit ISBN into a 13-digit ISBN. Note that the 13-digit ISBN conversion is identical to the 13 digits in the EAN Barcode.

Books published on or after January 1, 2007

All books published on or after January 1, 2007, must carry a 13-digit ISBN. The 13-digit ISBN should be printed above the barcode (retaining the correct hyphenated structure) on the back cover of your publications. The 13-digit ISBN printed above the barcode will be identical to the 13 digits embedded in the barcode and printed below.

Publishers with existing 10-digit ISBNs that they have not assigned to publications should continue to use these ISBNs. There is no need to purchase new ISBNs. However, publishers will need to convert this 10-digit ISBNs to 13-digit ISBNs. R.R. Bowker has provided a conversion tool at www.isbn.org where publishers can convert existing 10-digit ISBNs to 13-digit ISBNs.

Understanding that the transition from 10-digit ISBNs to 13-digit ISBNs will be a lengthy conversion, RR Bowker’s Books in Print will contain both the 13-digit ISBN and the legacy 10-digit ISBN for all the 13-digit ISBNs with the 978 prefix printed after January 1, 2007.

In summary, the publishing world continues to change. Small publishers need to ensure that all books available through book channels in 2007 have either a 10-digit ISBN with a 13-digit EAN Barcode (materials published prior to January 1, 2007) or a 13-digit ISBN with a 13-digit EAN Barcode (materials published on or after January 1, 2007). For more information on the 13-digit ISBN visit www.isbn.org.

Sarah Bolme, MSW is the co-founder of Christian Small Publishers Association (www.christianpublishers.net). She is an author and the owner of Crest Publications (www.crestpub.com). Sarah can be reached at cspa@christianpublishers.net.

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