How to Get ISBN Numbers
The majority of printed matter that is published and intended for sale, whether by a large publishing house or independently by an author, is required to have a unique International Standard Book Number. The ISBN is a 13-digit number used by libraries and retailers around the world to identify each publication. In the United States, ISBNs are sold exclusively by the Bowker U.S. ISBN Agency. To obtain an ISBN for your publication, follow these steps.
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Instructions
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Determine whether your publication will need an ISBN. Eligible items include books, e-books, audio books, maps, brochures, and educational DVDs and software. If your item falls under any of these categories but is not intended for sale or distribution to libraries, it is not required to have an ISBN.
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Visit MyIdentifiers.com, the website of the Bowker U.S. ISBN Agency. Click "Create an Account" in the upper right corner of the page. You will be asked to provide basic information such as your name, address, phone number and e-mail address, plus similar information about your company if you have one. Create a password and agree to the site's terms of service. Once your account has been created, you will be taken back to the site's home page.
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Select "ISBN" from the links at the top of the page and then "Buy an ISBN" from the drop-down menu. You will now have to decide how many ISBNs you need. They can be purchased individually or in blocks of 10, 100 or 1,000. Most self-publishers will only need to buy one ISBN at a time, but if your publication has more than one edition or binding style, each will need its own ISBN. For example, if your book comes in both hardcover and paperback, these are considered two separate products and they will each need a separate ISBN. Similarly, if you ever publish a new edition of your book, it will need a new ISBN that is different from that of the older version.
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Click the "Buy Now" button next to your desired quantity of ISBNs, which will automatically direct you to the shopping cart. Make sure that the product and quantity shown in your cart are correct. If you choose, at this time you can also purchase a bar code based on your ISBN, which you can place on the back cover of your book to make it easier to sell in stores.
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Provide your credit card and billing information. Bowker accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. You will be asked to agree to the agency's terms and conditions before proceeding to the confirmation page where your purchase will be finalized. It will then take up to 15 business days to have your application processed and your ISBNs assigned to you.
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Tips & Warnings
If you prefer to purchase an ISBN by mail or fax rather than online, download the application and mail it to 630 Central Ave., New Providence, New Jersey 07974, or fax it to 908-219-0188.
If your purchase an ISBN bar code, you will be asked to provide the retail price of your publication and it will be printed along with the bar code. If you make a mistake or change the price, you will need to purchase a new bar code with the updated information.
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