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FAQs: ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
return to list of ISBN (International Standard Book Number) FAQ topics Self-Publisher Questions
Can a self-publisher obtain an ISBN?
Yes, a self-publisher is a publisher -- one who is undertaking the financial risk to bring a book to market and coordinating everything involved: advertising, marketing, printing, order fulfillment, etc. How does the process work?
First, a publisher applies for an ISBN. The ISBN Agency emails the ISBN to the publisher. The ISBN is placed on the copyright page and is encoded on a bar code, which is placed on the back cover of the book. Then, when the book is about to be sold, the publisher registers the title in Books in Print at BowkerLink.com. Why don’t you ask me for my book’s title?
The U.S. ISBN Agency assigns numbers to publishers for their use in bringing out their books. The ISBN Agency keeps the records of which ISBNs have been assigned to publishers. When your book is just about ready to be sold, you should register the title in Books in Print. Books in Print is the main directory that bookstores, online retailers, and libraries use when looking for books for their customers. How do I register my title in Books in Print?
Publishers register their titles in Books in Print at www.BowkerLink.com. Please wait to receive your ISBN before going to BowkerLink and registering as a new user. Do you also assign Library of Congress catalogue numbers and handle copyright?
The U.S. ISBN Agency does not assign Library of Congress catalog numbers. The Library of Congress does this. The ISBN Agency is not a part of the Library of Congress. You can reach the Library of Congress at www.loc.gov. Copyright is also handled by the Library of Congress. Do I need a bar code?
You will need a bar code if you are going to sell your book in stores. There are several different bar code systems in the United States. The kind of bar code used in bookstores is called the EAN 13 bar code. You can purchase an EAN 13 bar code at the time you order your ISBN or you can get one afterward from a bar code supplier, or through Bowker Bar Code Services. What is a distributor? What is a wholesaler? What is a retailer?
A distributor is a business that has a signed exclusive contract with a publisher to sell their books. The distributor warehouses the books, fulfills orders, and issues invoices. A wholesaler buys and sells books without an exclusive agreement with the publisher. The wholesaler consolidates orders to retailers. A retailer sells books to the public. A retailer can be a physical store or it can be online.
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