How to ISBN and Copyright Your New Book

When a new book is processed, there is a particular type of process that needs to be followed to apply an ISBN number for a new book. This requires a copyright of the new work and contacting the LOC. Another step to obtain the number is contacting a non-governmental ISBN numbering company, Bowker Company. These are flexible steps, with the product in manuscript form, a TOC and Introduction, or in the final published form. But when the author plans for the book to be sold to libraries or sold in bookstores, the ISBN step is very much important to have done.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Publisher
• Computer and Internet access.
• Email and home addresses to the Library of Congress and ISBN-Bowker Company.
• Fees for both L.O.C. copyright and ISBN number.
• Filled out forms for both LOC copyright and ISBN number.

1. COPYRIGHT: This is the most flexible step of all, applied for anytime during the book's creation. The advantage of having it done on the manuscript or early publishing level, instead of after the book is already published, is that a copyright should be on the front page with the title. If the book is already market before sending it in, the information will not be there.
2. LOC FOR A LITERARY MANUSCRIPT: Copyrighting is done at the beginning of the process with a finished manuscript, or the contents list and an introduction can be sent with promotional material. It should be started a ways before the book's publication, even as early as two months. Once the form, fee, and one copy of the required material is sent into the appropriate L.O.C. cataloging department, a specific number will then be given to that specific book.
3. LOC FOR A PUBLISHED BOOK: Sometimes the manuscript will be already finished during the beginning process of the ISBN preparation. To finish the ISBN, it will require a form, a designated amount of payment, and a couple of book prints to be mailed into the L.O.CO.
4. ISBN and the Bowker Company: Once the manuscript is finally completed and in market, a bar code called the ISBN is processed through a company called the Bowker Company. Separate from the government division, it can be process through an internet application or one can be sent to your home address. Once the application is completed, an informative business letter and request form for information is sent with 10 ISBN numbers.