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The SAN (Standard Address Number) is a unique seven-digit identifier used to signify a specific address of an organization in (or served by) the publishing industry. It is an American National Standard, ANSI/NISO Z39.43-1993. This system, initiated and maintained by Bowker, has become THE identification code for electronic communication within the industry. It is the method used by Pubnet® and PubEasy® systems and is required in all electronic data interchange communications using the Book Industry Systems Advisory Committee (BISAC) EDI formats.

The SAN is a useful method for identifying customers for electronic ordering transmission, voice recognition ordering systems, teleordering, for billing or shipping account numbers, etc. The use of the SAN significantly reduces the problems faced by other non-standard numbering systems such as billing errors, books shipped to the wrong points, errors in payments and returns. Among those currently using the SAN are book and journal publishers, wholesalers and distributors, book retailers and college bookstores, libraries, schools and universities, as well as paper and cloth manufacturers, printers and binders and others involved in the manufacturing of books and journals.