How to Find Books by ISBN Number
Have you ever wondered what the number under the barcode on a book is? It's called the ISBN: the International Standard Book Number. The ISBN is a unique 10- or 13-digit number which identifies a commercial book, and it can be used to find that book even when you don't know the title, the author or the publisher--when, for instance, you're looking for a book published in a language you can't read, or one of the covers is missing.
Instructions
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Enter the ISBN number into the ISBN search engine on any book search website. There are several of these, including ones associated with particular booksellers like Borders or Barnes & Noble, which will then allow you to purchase the book online.
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If you have at least a partial copy of the book, locate the ISBN beneath the barcode on the back cover, or on the same page as the copyright information. Finding the book by ISBN can then supply information that may be missing, such as the title, the author or the publisher.
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Go to a local library or bookseller and ask them to look it up for you if you're having trouble finding it online yourself. Libraries and booksellers have easy access to ISBN databases that will help them get you the information you need fast.
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Tips & Warnings
The ISBN is a relatively recent invention and will not be found on books published before 1970.
Different editions of the same book will have different ISBNs. Just because the ISBN for the edition you're looking for is out of print doesn't mean the book is out of print. Check with a library or bookseller for more up-to-date information.
