*** New! As from today you can enjoy ISBN orders by filling out digital forms (filling out a form directly on the website without the need for printing) ***
ISBN – International Standard Book Number
is a worldwide system for identifying books internationally.
Since 2007 The ISBN is a 13-digit number that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published, Before 2007 ISBN was a 10-digit number.
The purpose of ISBN
The purpose of the ISBN is to establish and identify one title or edition of a title from one specific publisher and is unique to that edition, allowing for more efficient marketing of products by booksellers, libraries, universities and distributors
The format of the ISBN
Every ISBN consists of 13 digits and whenever it is printed it is preceded by the letters ISBN. The 13-digit number is divided into five parts of variable length, each part separated by a hyphen. Example: ISBN 978-965-231-157-3
Who is eligible for an ISBN
The ISBN Agency assigns ISBNs at the direct request of publishers, e-book publishers, audio cassette and video producers, software producers and museums and associations with publishing programs.
How long does it take to get an ISBN
Allow 5 business days for regular processing from the time an ISBN application and payment are received at the agency. Express processing with extra 50 NIS, ISBN will be assigned in 2 business days.
Printing of ISBN
ISBN should be assigned to each title or product, including any backlist or forthcoming titles.
Each format or binding must have a separate ISBN (i.e. hardcover, paperbound, VHS video, laserdisc, e-book format, etc).
New ISBN is required for a revised edition. Once assigned, an ISBN can never be reused.
ISBN is printed on the back cover of a book above the bar code and on the copyright page. When the number is either written or printed, it must be preceded by the letters "ISBN" and each part must be separated by a hyphen.
Note: Hyphenation varies with size of prefix
How are ISBNs used in a Barcode
The ISBN can be translated into a worldwide compatible barcode format. The Barcode given with the ISBN is issued by the International Article Numbering Association and is approved by The Ministry of Industry. Printing barcodes in books and other products enables the efficient use of optical scanning and identification systems.
Global Register of Publishers
The Global Register is a free resource including addresses and other contact details of publishers in more than 200 countries and territories.
The Israeli Center for Library and books, as the ISBN international representative, is obligated once a year to upload the data of the Israeli publishers using the ISBN method to the Global Register.
The Global Register provides details about publishers but it does not include information about specific publications. However, if you already know the ISBN of the book, you can use the Global Register to find out how to contact the publisher for more information.
Simple search facilities are available to all – successful results will display the publisher name and ISBN prefix (or full ISBN in the case of small publishers) automatically.
Search the Global Register of Publisher>
Major Issues in the Implementation of the ISBN
- ISBN CAN NEVER BE REUSED: Once an ISBN is assigned to a title, it CANNOT BE REASSIGNED even if the title goes out of print. In addition to being an order fulfillment tool, the ISBN is a bibliographic element in cataloging. It is printed on catalog cards, in catalogs and entered in national and international databases.
When A title is reprintred, regardless of price change' the original ISBN must be maintained. - EDITIONS/BINDINGS/FORMATS: A separate ISBN must be assigned to the different formats in which a particular title is published, i.e. paper, microfilm, braille, multimedia sets, microcomputer software programs on various disk size, tape, cassette, etc. ALL have a separate ISBN. REVISED editions require a new ISBN.
- MULTI-VOLUME WORKS: If a multi-volume work is sold only as a set, one ISBN must be assigned to the whole set of volumes. If individual volumes of the set are also being sold separately, each volume must be assigned an individual ISBN. The ISBN for the individual volume and the ISBN for the set should be printed in each volume.
- CO-PUBLICATIONS: A publication issued as a co-edition or joint imprint with another publisher can be assigned an ISBN by each publisher. However, if only one publisher is the distributor, only that publisher should assign an ISBN.
- DISTRIBUTORS: A distributor, even an exclusive distributor, must use the ISBN of the PUBLISHER in all promotional materials.
It is important to implement the ISBN system and observe its standards exactly. Any deviation, i.e., not using all 13 digits or assigning a new ISBN due to a price change, would complicate communication in the future.
To Order ISBN Please Contact
Dan Sokol
Tel. 03-6180151 ext. 106
Fax 03-5798048
isbn@icl.org.il