ISBN FAQs
What is an ISBN?
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit number that uniquely identifies books. Every edition of a title carries a unique ISBN which allows for more efficient marketing of products by booksellers, libraries, wholesalers and distributors.
What is the format of an ISBN?
Every ISBN consists of 13 digits (previously 10 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:
i) Currently, all new 13-digit ISBNs are prefixed by “978″
ii) Group or country identifier which identifies a national or geographic grouping of publishers;
iii) Publisher identifier which identifies a particular publisher within a group;
iv) Title identifier which identifies a particular title or edition of a title;
v) Check digit is the single digit at the end of the ISBN which validates the ISBN.
Can you supply me with an ISBN number?
No. ISBNs are supplied by specially appointed ISBN Agencies in each country. Click here to find the National ISBN Agency in your country or geographic territory.
I have an ISBN for my book, now what?
You need a company like ours to produce a unique machine-readable barcode from your ISBN. Google for other barcode supplies and compare their services and prices with what we offer.
Barcode FAQs
What kind of ISBN barcode do I need?
Depending on the main selling territory for your book, you may require a standalone ISBN barcode or one with an additional price barcode attached. For example, most books sold in USA require two barcodes, an ISBN barcode and a US dollar price barcode. If you are unsure which barcode you require, please consult your distributor(s).
Do you supply barcodes for ISSN?
No. We specialize in ISBN barcodes. ISSN barcodes are typically used by magazines, periodicals, serials, etc.
What graphics file format are your ISBNs supplied in?
We supply all our barcodes as .eps files. These can then be used in conjunction with your design software, such as InDesign, Quark, Freehand and Illustrator.
How long does it take for you to email us the barcode?
We will email you the barcode within 24 hours. Usually within a couple of hours.
What payment options do I have?
Our transactions are handled by PayPal so you can pay by credit card or with existing PayPal accounts.
What if I’m not happy with the barcode?
Let us know your concerns immediately and we’ll see if we can find a solution.