Self-Published Books: What is an ISBN number? Do I need one?
![An ISBN number and barcode printed on a blue and red background](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/900x633/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_487324291.png)
What is an ISBN Number?
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. An ISBN is
a numeric code that uniquely identifies the book to which it is assigned. ISBN
numbers are usually placed on the lower back cover of a book as well as the
copyright page.
ISBN numbers are the universally accepted format for
identifying books. As such, they are generally a requirement if you plan to sell
your books commercially, especially through traditional channels like
bookstores, distributors, and wholesalers.
![An example of a book's ISBN barcode and Price barcode](https://transform.octanecdn.com/cdn/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_733053494.png)
The Origin and Format of ISBN Numbers
The ISBN system was developed in the mid 1960's by a large
UK book retailer that wanted to establish a computerized inventory system for its
multitude of book titles. The idea was soon adopted by others in the publishing
industry who also recognized the value of having a standardized identification
system for books. By the early 1970's, the use of ISBN numbers was spreading
around the globe.
Each ISBN uses a long string of numbers to encode information about a book. Prior to 2007, ISBN numbers were 10 digits in length (ISBN-10). The 13-digit ISBN format (ISBN-13) was introduced on January 1, 2007 and has been in use ever since.
A 13-digit ISBN consists of five basic sections with each
section separated by a hyphen...
1. The first part will be "978" or "979" to identify the
data string as a 13-digit ISBN number.
2. The second part identifies the geographic region where
the book's publisher is located (where the book was actually printed is not
coded into the ISBN, only the region where the publisher is located)
3. The third part identifies the particular publisher (if
you are Self-Publishing, that's you!)
4. The fourth part identifies a specific title or an edition/version
of a title
5. The fifth and final part is a check digit, which is derived from a
mathematical formula and used to verify that all the other numbers in the ISBN data
string are correct.
ISBN Numbers Follow Established Guidelines
The International ISBN Agency is located in London, England.
It oversees and regulates 160+ regional and national ISBN agencies throughout
the world.
R. R. Bowker LLC, located in Chatham, New Jersey, is the official
ISBN agency for the United States. Whether an author is Self-Publishing a book
or relying on a publishing service, all ISBN numbers obtained in the U.S. are
issued by Bowker. An initial fee is charged for ISBN numbers but there is never a renewal charge because the numbers don't expire.
It is also important to note that each ISBN identifies one book
title, or one version of that title. This means if a title is
released as a softcover book and a hardcover book, each version will need its
own unique ISBN.
Also, whenever a book comes out as a new edition, each
edition will need its own ISBN. This rule applies even when the same book is
produced as a large print edition or translated into a foreign language. Every variation of the book will need its own ISBN number.
Once an ISBN has been assigned to a specific book, that particular
ISBN number will never be issued again nor should it ever be used for any book
other than the one for which it was originally created.
![A woman looking at books in a bookstore](https://transform.octanecdn.com/cdn/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_612541392.png)
Do I need an ISBN Number?
Whether or not you need an ISBN number as a Self-Publisher will
largely depend on how you plan to distribute your printed book.
You WILL NOT need an ISBN Number if…
- Your book will be given away free of charge, such as a book created for promotional purposes or as a gift to family or acquaintances.
- You will be the one selling the book directly to end users, such as by in-person contact or through your own website or store.
- Your book will be sold through an online retailer that does not require an ISBN. For example, Amazon will assign its own standard identification number (ASIN) to your book so it can be sold through their website.
- Your book will be used privately by a company or organization, such as a technical manual or handbook.
You WILL need an ISBN Number if…
- Your book will be sold through bookstores or other retail outlets.
- Your book will be sold through a distributor network or wholesaler.
- Your book will be offered by a college or university, such as a textbook or workbook.
- Your book will be made available to libraries.
How do I get an ISBN Number?
Fortunately, the process of obtaining an ISBN number is relatively
simple. You can order directly through Bowker by visiting the isbn.org website.
IMPORTANT: Because ISBN numbers are owned by the publisher
of a book, it is recommended that Self-Publishers purchase these numbers directly. This allows you to retain ownership of the ISBN number and provides the most control over the book, both now and in the future.
Color Vision specializes in Book Printing!
Color Vision has been printing affordable books since 1984. As a full-service printer, we have digital presses to produce
short runs and offset presses to produce longer runs. We also offer a wide variety
of binding and finishing options to make your book unique.
If you have any questions about obtaining an ISBN number or about
book printing in general, give us a call at 800-543-6299. Or, if you are
looking for a quote, use our Quote Request form to send us your project specs
and will be happy to email a quote to you.
As always, we look forward to assisting with your printing,
binding, and finishing needs!
Related Articles
![A male hand separating a large stack of paper sheets](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_648604842.png)
Printing Terminology: What is a Substrate?
Read This Article
![The gutter area of a book](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_768925941.png)
What is the Gutter of a Book?
Read This Article
![A man, a woman, and a child looking at a printed brochure](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_413330749.png)
The Difference between a Brochure and a Pamphlet
Read This Article
![Sheet-Fed Printing Press vs Roll-Fed Printing Press](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_637188568.png)
Printing Terminology: Sheet Fed Press vs Web Press
Read This Article
![A stack of printed brochures exiting the folding machine](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_139312952.png)
What is Print Collateral?
Read This Article
![Registration Mark used in CMYK Printing](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_476337562.png)
Printing Registration: A Key Factor in High-Quality Printing
Read This Article
![A male graphic designer using computer software to lay out artwork](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_928833269.png)
Printing Terminology: What is “Artwork” in Printing?
Read This Article
![Man adding yellow ink to an offset printing press](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_432652245.png)
Offset Printing: What is Make Ready?
Read This Article
![Computer icon of an Abode PDF file](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_368872050.png)
What are PDF files? Why do Printing Companies prefer them?
Read This Article
![Indicia imprint on a white direct mail piece, shown against a blue background](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_627359765.png)
Direct Mail Marketing: What are Postal Indicia?
Read This Article
![Silhouette of a graphic artist creating an artwork file](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_116158007.png)
What is a Print Ready File?
Read This Article
![A booklet with a gloss cover and pages](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_136055565.png)
Aqueous Coating vs UV Coating: Understanding the Differences
Read This Article
![A colorful flower bouquet seen behind examples of high and low opacity paper stocks](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_128866247.png)
What is the meaning of “Opacity” in regard to Paper?
Read This Article
![Three repair order forms with sequential ID numbers printed in red](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_340244157.png)
Printing Terminology: What is Sequential Numbering?
Read This Article
![A book's pages bound with a white Wire-O spine](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_905816922.png)
Custom Book Printing: What is Wire-O Binding?
Read This Article
![Two race horses running side by side on the track](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_520768121.png)
Printing Terminology: What is Grayscale?
Read This Article
![A thickness gauge measuring the combined caliper of two sheets of paper](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_820703628.png)
Paper Specifications: What does Caliper mean?
Read This Article
![Name tag that says Hello my name is Rich Black](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_653035354.png)
Printing Terminology: What is Rich Black?
Read This Article
![An ISBN number and barcode printed on a blue and red background](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_988097505.png)
Self-Published Books: What is an ISBN number? Do I need one?
Read This Article
![Stacks of large paper sheets lying on a blue surface](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_916885862.png)
Paper Weights explained: The meaning of Paper Basis Weight
Read This Article
![A circular emblem embossed into textured paper](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_747370773.png)
Printing Terminology: What is Blind Embossing?
Read This Article
![A variety of Saddle Stitched books arranged on a table](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_599729622.png)
What is Saddle Stitch Binding?
Read This Article
![A person reading a Perfect Bound book about food](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_829714912.png)
Custom Book Printing: What is Perfect Binding?
Read This Article
![Organic food store logo printed as a reverse in green ink on white substrate](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_925554476.png)
What is Reverse Printing?
Read This Article
![A piece of notebook paper stating K is for Key in CMYK Printing](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_647824352.png)
Why is the color Black designated by the letter "K" in CMYK?
Read This Article
![A person wearing yellow rubber boots standing in water](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_832907646.png)
Printing and Finishing: What is a Flood Coat?
Read This Article
![An open magazine with a Crossover Image of a fisherman spanning both pages](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_588745725.png)
Book Printing: What are Crossover Images?
Read This Article
![Graphic Designer working with native artwork fIles](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_179896128.png)
Graphic Design and Printing: What is a Native File?
Read This Article
![A variety of softcover books aligned in a stack](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_854412213.png)
What is the Spine of a Book?
Read This Article
![A man holding a Self Cover booklet](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_239921700.png)
What is a Self Cover Booklet?
Read This Article
![An example of Gloss Spot UV on a matte substrate](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_332163792.png)
Printing Terminology: What is Spot UV?
Read This Article
![A cutting die used for paper substrates](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_193239713.png)
Printing Terminology: What is Die Cutting?
Read This Article
![A stack of Saddle-Stitched books with Gloss UV Coating on the covers](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_159135159.png)
What is UV Coating?
Read This Article
![A full-color image shown with its four color-separated files of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_361620900.png)
Printing Terminology: What is Color Separation?
Read This Article
![Two hands holding a Pantone Color Guide](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_863861719.png)
What is a Pantone Color?
Read This Article
![A variety of print projects on pallets in front of an offset printing press](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_746721441.png)
What is Commercial Printing?
Read This Article
![A stack of open magazines with Aqueous Coating applied to the pages](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_677507193.png)
What is Aqueous Coating?
Read This Article
![A diagram illustrating the concept of Saddle Stitch Page Creep](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_575256683.png)
Saddle Stitch Binding: What is Creep?
Read This Article
![An example of 2-Up Printing showing two hot air balloon images](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_423138822.png)
What is 2-Up Printing, 4-Up Printing, N-Up Printing, etc.?
Read This Article
![A digital printing press used for commercial production](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_199600359.png)
What is Digital Printing?
Read This Article
![A Pantone color guide book fanned open](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_225000454.png)
What is a “Spot” Color?
Read This Article
![Four ink towers of an Offset Printing Press](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_873618680.png)
What is Offset Printing?
Read This Article
![A hard copy proof of a magazine cover](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_489495992.png)
Printing Proofs: Soft Proofs vs Hard Proofs
Read This Article
![The abbreviation DPI surrounded by CMYK ink dots](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_140449698.jpg)
Printing Terminology: What is DPI?
Read This Article
![An embossed logo that reads eco friendly](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_413061774.png)
Printing Terminology: Embossing vs Debossing
Read This Article
![A diagram showing 2-sided sheets printed with various ink colors](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_317665379.png)
What is 4/4 Printing, 4/1 Printing, and 4/0 Printing?
Read This Article
![The letters CMYK displayed in boxes of corresponding colors](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_253032275.png)
Printing Terminology: What is CMYK?
Read This Article
![An open book depicting the concept of verso and recto](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_759260051.png)
Printing Terminology: Recto and Verso
Read This Article
![A stack of white paper lying on a wooden surface](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_186032634.png)
Printing Terminology: What is Paper Grain?
Read This Article
![A commercial printing plant worker collating the sections of a book](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_677239129.png)
What does Collate mean in Printing?
Read This Article
![Hands holding a printed map](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_781240408.png)
What is Synthetic Paper?
Read This Article
![A hand holding a stack of printed sheets](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_708172761.png)
Printing Terminology: Simplex vs Duplex Printing
Read This Article
![Two beachfront scenes oriented in the same direction](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_833364553.png)
What is Head to Head Printing?
Read This Article
![Graphic Designer reviewing an Artwork File to be Printed](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_219147517.jpeg)
Printing Terminology: What does Preflighting mean?
Read This Article
![plastic comb book open](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_918121585.jpeg)
Plastic Comb Books: What does the "Comb" refer to?
Read This Article
![paper for a large sheet-fed press](https://transform.octanecdn.com/crop/300x300/https://octanecdn.com/colorvisionprintingcom/colorvisionprintingcom_620568606.jpeg)
What is C1S Paper and C2S Paper?
Read This Article