What is an ISBN?
ISBN is short for “international standard book number.” It’s a 13-digit number found on the back cover of a book above a bar code.
What is the purpose of an ISBN?
An ISBN is a unique code that identifies each book published worldwide and includes important details like the title, publisher, and location. This number simplifies book distribution to publishers, retailers, and libraries worldwide.
You will need one ISBN for each edition and format of your book. The ISBN identifies the publisher and the specific book title, edition, and format (hardback, paperback, ePub, Audio…). Any variation of a book will require the use of a unique ISBN to identify it correctly. This allows retailers to help customers understand which version of a title they are purchasing. So, consider:
- How many book titles do you plan to publish?
- How many formats will be used for each title?
- Do you plan to publish future revised editions of these titles?
- By purchasing ISBNs in advance, you can later register your titles with ease.
- ISBNs never expire.
An ISBN does not affect copyright. As the author, you own your intellectual property under copyright laws.
Do I need an ISBN?
You need an ISBN to sell your book in bookstores, libraries, or online retailers like Amazon.com.
Where do I purchase an ISBN?
The only official source of ISBNs in the United States is the Bowker Agency.
Who is the person responsible for buying the ISBN?
It is the responsibility of the book’s publisher to buy the ISBN. ISBNs designate the publisher of a book. You, as the author should own your ISBN number.
What is the Cost?
If you purchase your own ISBN, the cost for one number through Bowker Agency is $125. You will need a different ISBN for each format of your book. You’ll need three ISBNs to publish your book as a paperback, hardcover, and e-book. Bowker has the option to purchase ISBNs in blocks of 10 that are discounted to $295. You must establish an account with Bowker Agency to purchase your ISBNs.
If I publish a paperback through IngramSpark and KDP, do I need a different ISBN for both, or can I use the same one?
If you publish a paperback and you own the ISBN, then you don’t need a new ISBN to publish on a different platform. If you allow KDP to provide you with a free ISBN, the ISBN remains there forever because ISBNs are not transferable. This means if you want your KDP book with the KDP ISBN published elsewhere, you will need to purchase your own ISBN number in order to do so. Amazon controls the rights to their number.
This is the reason it’s in the author’s best interest to purchase their own numbers. By owning your numbers, you control the rights to your book. As an author, you control the copyright to your book, which no one can take away from you. However, the ISBN holder controls the distribution rights, which determine where a book is sold and by whom. If you do not have distribution rights to your book, it’s the equivalent of losing your copyrights.
Also, be aware of sites that claim to sell ISBN numbers cheaper. Bowker is the only legal place in the US to purchase ISBNs.
As an author, if you’re going to publish, it’s best to maintain control over your work. By owning your ISBN, your paperback can then be published and printed by anyone you choose.
Do I need a bar code?
Big retail stores require barcodes for physical books to facilitate their sale and tracking. When we upload your paperback to Amazon, they generate and place one on your back cover.
How about copyrights?
Intellectual property law protects your work as soon as you write or save it. “Copyrighting your book” refers to registering your copyright, but it’s not essential. Registering is necessary if you want to sue for copyright infringement, but not for copyright protection itself. By law, your work receives copyright protection the moment it is fixed in tangible form. In a country that offers official registration, registering may expand your rights but does not confer additional protection.
If you’d like to register:
- Go to the copyright.gov portal.
- Click “Literary Works,” then “Register A Literary Work.”
- Create an account with the U.S. Copyright Office.
- Go to “Copyright Registration” on the left side of your screen and click on “Register A New Claim.”
- Click “Start Registration.”
- Complete the form.
- Pay the U.S. Copyright Office. The standard fee for online registration is $65.
- Send your manuscript’s “best edition” to the U.S. Copyright Office.
- Wait for approval
Do you still have questions? Contact Pat – pr@speakuptalkradio.com