International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique[a][b] numeric

commercial book identifier.

An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation (except reprintings) of a book.

For example, an e-book, a paperback and a hardcover edition of the same book
would each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or
after 1 January 2007, and 10 digits long if assigned before 2007. The method of
assigning an ISBN is nation-based and varies from country to country, often
depending on how large the publishing industry is within a country.

The initial ISBN configuration of recognition was generated in 1967 based upon
the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) created in 1966. The 10-digit
ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO
2108 (the SBN code can be converted to a ten digit ISBN by prefixing it with a
zero).

Occasionally, a book may appear without a printed ISBN if it is printed privately

or the author does not follow the usual ISBN procedure; however, this can be
rectified later.[1]

Another identifier, the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), identifies

periodical publications such as magazines; and the International Standard
Music Number (ISMN) covers for musical scores.

Contents

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1History

2Overview

o 2.1How ISBNs are issued

o 2.2Registration group identifier

o 2.3Registrant element

2.3.1Pattern for English language ISBNs

3Check digits

o 3.1ISBN-10 check digits

o 3.2ISBN-10 check digit calculation

o 3.3ISBN-13 check digit calculation

 o 3.4ISBN-10 to ISBN-13 conversion

o 3.5Errors in usage

o 3.6eISBN

4EAN format used in barcodes, and upgrading

5See also

6Notes

7References

8External links

History

The Standard Book Numbering (SBN) code is a 9-digit

commercial book identifier system created by Gordon Foster, Emeritus
Professor of Statistics at Trinity College, Dublin,[2] for the booksellers and
stationers WHSmith and others in 1965.[3] The ISBN configuration of recognition
was generated in 1967 in the United Kingdom by David Whitaker [4] (regarded as
the "Father of the ISBN"[5]) and in 1968 in the US by Emery Koltay[4] (who later
became director of the U.S. ISBN agency R.R. Bowker).[5][6][7]

The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO
2108.[3][4] The United Kingdom continued to use the 9-digit SBN code until 1974.
ISO has appointed the International ISBN Agency as the registration authority
for ISBN worldwide and the ISBN Standard is developed under the control of ISO
Technical Committee 46/Subcommittee 9 TC 46/SC 9. The ISO on-line facility
only refers back to 1978.[8]

An SBN may be converted to an ISBN by prefixing the digit "0". For example,
the second edition of Mr. J. G. Reeder Returns, published by Hodder in 1965,
has "SBN 340 01381 8" 340 indicating the publisher, 01381 their serial
number, and 8 being the check digit. This can be converted to ISBN 0-340-
01381-8; the check digit does not need to be re-calculated.

Since 1 January 2007, ISBNs have contained 13 digits, a format that is

compatible with "Bookland" European Article Number EAN-13s.[9]

Overview

An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation (except reprintings) of a book.

For example, an ebook, a paperback, and a hardcover edition of the same book
would each have a different ISBN.[10]The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or
after 1 January 2007, and 10 digits long if assigned before 2007. An
International Standard Book Number consists of 4 parts (if it is a 10 digit ISBN)
or 5 parts (for a 13 digit ISBN):

The parts of a 10-digit ISBN and the corresponding EAN-13 and barcode. Note
the different check digits in each. The part of the EAN-13 labeled "EAN" is
the Bookland country code.

1. for a 13-digit ISBN, a prefix element a GS1 prefix: so far 978 or 979
have been made available by GS1,[11]

2. the registration group element, (language-sharing country group,

individual country or territory)[12]

3. the registrant element,

4. the publication element,[11] and

5. a checksum character or check digit.[11]

A 13-digit ISBN can be separated into its parts (prefix element, registration
group, registrant, publication and check digit), and when this is done it is
customary to separate the parts with hyphens or spaces. Separating the parts
(registration group, registrant, publication and check digit) of a 10-digit ISBN is
also done with either hyphens or spaces. Figuring out how to correctly separate
a given ISBN number is complicated, because most of the parts do not use a
fixed number of digits.[13]