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How to Start a Small Publishing House

By an eHow Contributor

Establishing and running a small publishing house may seem like a complicated endeavor. However, because of digital technology and the distribution possibilities offered by the Internet, small publishing is more feasible today than ever before. Independent voices can be affordably made available to the general reading public, providing fresh titles, both fiction and non-fiction. While big publishing might claim the majority of the profit margin, small publishing remains alive and well among the small, entrepreneurial set.
Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions
1. 1 Acquire International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) from Bowker Agency. These unique numbers identify your exclusive right to the titles you are publishing and are needed to distribute your books widely. 2. 2 Purchase a unique Internet domain name for your publishing house website. The electronic storefront is a major factor in evening out the long odds of competing against large publishing houses with huge fiction and non fiction lists supported by lavish advertising accounts. 3. 3 Determine a niche for your publication efforts. Small presses succeed when their books are targeted toward a small but dependable readership. 4. 4 Develop an attractive and content appropriate website for your books. The Internet appearance of your small press will provide a virtual stop and gathering place for readers interested in whatever niche you claim. 5. 5 Locate the book printer most appropriate for your needs. Print-on-demand technology allows you to set up titles in an electronic database for minimal cost while providing widespread distribution through popular online book retailers. 6. 6 Contact small press friendly book reviewers and send attractive press kits. Making contact with the Internetbased book reviewers is one of the most important aspects of ensuring your books are reviewed and made known to your intended readership. 7. 7 Visit small press trade shows and network with other small publishers, sharing information on unique marketing strategies in order to keep abreast of the most recent trends within the business.

Read more: How to Start a Small Publishing House | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2060889_start-smallpublishing-house.html#ixzz13e2A2IU6

Instructions
1. 1 Seek good writers and editors. Quality will be the key to earning credibility in the publishing industry. It is crucial that writers and editors know the mission of the publishing house and how their jobs fit into that mission. Get online and read blogs and other writings that will compliment the publishing house that is being created and seek the individuals who created them. 2 Consult with experts. This can be as simple as reading everything available on publishing. Dan Poynter, for example, has been in the industry for several years and provides very practical information to publishers about starting and maintaining a business. Independent publishing is a very giving community. Find a a potential mentor and engage them. 3 Determine a niche. The publishing industry is wide open. Determine what the market is in need of. Is there a deficit of Indian themed fiction? Is NASCAR lacking coverage? Combine interests with market deficits and develop a marketing plan to address it. 4 Get the necessary permits to start a business. Publishing houses often start as a one man or one woman show. Determine the best company structure for the business and make sure all licensing for the business is acquired. 5 Find the start up cash. This will depend on the desired growth for the business. Building a publishing house one book at a time is definitely an approach to take and will take a lot less cash. Getting several books going simultaneously may required advances to authors, payments to printers and cash to implement marketing plans and book tours. Decide how the business will grow and go for it.

2.

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5.

Read more: How to Start Your Own Publishing House | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2308240_start-ownpublishing-house.html#ixzz13e2Sub6D

How to Start a Publishing Company


By an eHow Contributor

You've written a great manuscript, but you can't get an agent or publishing house to give you the time of day. There are several options open to you, including starting your own publishing business. You don't have to share the profit with anyone, and you have total control over your project. And once you learn how to run your publishing business, you can begin publishing other authors' work.
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions
Start Up

1. 1
Check the legal requirements for your community. See if you need any licenses and if there are any restrictions on having a business in your home.

2. 3. 4. 5.5

2 3 4

Decide on a name for your publishing company. Register your business name with the appropriate state agency.

File papers of incorporation if you plan to incorporate.

Design a logo so your company will be easily recognizable.

Purchase a block of International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) from R.R. Bowker. Each book will have a specific number linking it back to your publishing company.

6. 7.7

Select a software program in which to lay out your books. Microsoft Word, WordPerfect or Microsoft Publisher work well.

Pick a software program to design the cover of your books. PageMaker, Quark Xpress or Adobe InDesign work well. You can always hire a graphic artist for this too.

The Big League

8.

Join an organization for small publishers, such as Small Publishers Association of North America (SPAN).

9. 10. 11.

2 3 4

Sign up with a book distribution company such as Baker & Taylor. This will get your books into more stores and libraries.

Look for printing companies that will print small runs. Many can be found through SPAN.

Read books on marketing, such as "1001 Ways to Market Your Books" by John Kremer.

Frequently Asked Questions about the ISBN


What is an ISBN? What is the purpose of an ISBN? What is the format of the ISBN? Does the ISBN have any meaning imbedded in the numbers? Why do some ISBNs end in an "X"? Who can assign ISBNs to a publisher? Who is eligible for an ISBN? How long does it take to get an ISBN? How much does it cost to get an ISBN? What do I do when I receive the ISBN and where is it printed? How & where do I register my ISBN? Can a publisher have both an ISBN & ISSN? How can I find an assigned ISBN? How are ISBNs used in a Bar Code & how do I obtain one? How do I select the correct amount of ISBNs? What is the format of the new ISBN-13? Does the ISBN-13 have any meaning imbedded in the numbers?

What is an ISBN? The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 10-digit number that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally. What is the purpose of an 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, wholesalers and distributors. What is the format of the ISBN? Every ISBN consists of ten digits and whenever it is printed it is preceded by the letters ISBN. The ten-digit number is divided into four parts of variable length, each part separated by a hyphen. Does the ISBN have any meaning imbedded in the numbers? The four parts of an ISBN are as follows: Group or country identifier which identifies a national or geographic grouping of publishers; Publisher identifier which identifies a particular publisher within a group; Title identifier which identifies a particular title or edition of a title; Check digit is the single digit at the end of the ISBN which validates the ISBN. Why do some ISBNs end in an "X"?

In the case of the check digit, the last digit of the ISBN, the upper case X can appear. The method of determining the check digit for the ISBN is the modulus 11 with the weighting factors 10 to 1. The Roman numeral X is used in lieu of 10 where ten would occur as a check digit. Who can assign ISBNs to a publisher? There are over 160 ISBN Agencies worldwide, and each ISBN Agency is appointed as the exclusive agent responsible for assigning ISBNs to publishers residing in their country or geographic territory. The United States ISBN Agency is the only source authorized to assign ISBNs to publishers supplying an address in the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico and its database establishes the publisher of record associated with each prefix. Once an ISBN publisher prefix and associated block of numbers has been assigned to a publisher by the ISBN Agency, the publisher can assign ISBNs to publications it holds publishing rights to. However, after the ISBN Agency assigns ISBNs to a publisher, that publisher cannot resell, reassign, transfer, or split its list of ISBNs among other publishers. These guidelines have long been established to ensure the veracity, accuracy and continued utility of the international ISBN standard. As defined by the ISO Standard, the ISBN publisher prefix (or "root" of the ISBN) identifies a single publisher. If a second publisher subsequently obtains an ISBN from the assigned publisher's block of ISBNs, there will be no change in the publisher of record for any ISBN in the block as originally assigned. Therefore, searches of industry databases for that re-assigned ISBN will identify the original owner of that assigned prefix as the publisher rather than the second publisher. Discovering this consequence too late can lead to extensive costs in applying for a new prefix, re-assigning a new ISBN, and potentially leading to the application of stickers to books already printed and in circulation. If you are a new publisher, you should apply for your own ISBN publisher prefix and plan to identify and circulate your books properly in the industry supply chain. You may encounter offers from other sources to purchase single ISBNs at special offer prices; you should be wary of purchasing from these sources for the reasons noted above. There are unauthorized re-sellers of ISBNs and this activity is a violation of the ISBN standard and of industry practice. A publisher with one of these re-assigned ISBNs will not be correctly identified as the publisher of record in Books In Print or any of the industry databases such as Barnes and Noble or Amazon or those of wholesalers such as Ingram. If you have questions, contact the US ISBN Agency for further advice. 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 15 business days for non-priority processing from the time an ISBN application is received at the agency (not from the date sent by the publisher.) Priority processing is two business days from the time an application is received at the agency. Express processing is 24 business hours. How much does it cost to get an ISBN?

There is a service fee to process all ISBN applications. Service fee information is contained on the application. Priority and Express processing involve an additional fee. NOTE: The processing service charge is NON-REFUNDABLE. What do I do when I receive the ISBN and where is it printed? An 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). A new ISBN is required for a revised edition. Once assigned, an ISBN can never be reused. An ISBN is printed on the lower portion of the back cover of a book above the bar code and on the copyright page. How & where do I register my ISBN? Once ISBNs have been assigned to products they should be reported to R.R. Bowker as the database of record for the ISBN Agency. Companies are eligible for a free listing in various directories such as Books in Print, Words on Cassette, The Software Encyclopedia, Bowker's Complete Video Directory, etc. NOTE: Receiving just your ISBNs does NOT guarantee title listings. To ensure your titles get in the Books in Print database you must submit your title information. Book titles should be registered with Books in Print at www.bowkerlink.com Can a publisher have both an ISBN & an ISSN? Both numbering systems are used for books in a series and with annuals or biennials. The ISBN identifies the individual book in a series or a specific year for an annual or biennial. The ISSN identifies the ongoing series, or the ongoing annual or biennial serial. If a publication has both, each should be printed on the copyright page. How can I find an assigned ISBN? The Publications (hard copy listings) in which the assigned ISBNs appear are Publishers, Distributors & Wholesalers of the United States, published by R.R. Bowker, and Literary Market Place, published by Information Today. How are ISBNs used in a Bar Code & how do I obtain one? The ISBN can be translated into a worldwide compatible bar code format. Publishers who wish to have their ISBNs translated into worldwide compatible bar codes can now make their request directly online at www.isbn.org or www.bowkerbarcode.com . Bar code scanning is a required step required by for many retailers in the sales transaction process for book publications and book-related items. We hope that offering this service will save you time and enable you to meet all of your transaction partners' requirements. How do I select the correct amount of ISBNs?

ISBNs are sold in blocks of 10, 100, and 1000. When purchasing ISBNs, we recommend that you estimate the amount of publications you will be publishing within the next five years, and select the block that best suits your needs. It is always best to select the block that will last you for a few years because you will be able to maintain one publisher prefix, and minimize the unit cost per ISBN. When purchasing a larger block of ISBNs, the price per ISBN decreases. What is the format of the new ISBN-13? Every ISBN will consist of thirteen digits in 2007. The thirteen digit number is divided into five parts of variable length, each part separated by a hyphen. Does the ISBN-13 have any meaning imbedded in the numbers? The five parts of an ISBN are as follows: 1. The current ISBN-13 will be prefixed by "978" 2. Group or country identifier which identifies a national or geographic grouping of publishers; 3. Publisher identifier which identifies a particular publisher within a group; 4. Title identifier which identifies a particular title or edition of a title; 5. Check digit is the single digit at the end of the ISBN which validates the ISBN.

ISBN Number In India ISBN (International Standard Book Number) Number in India is the sole international publishers identifier digit. It is mainly meant for the monographic publications and it is the13 digit number. It can replace the handling of the long bibliographic vivid records. It was introduced in the world during 1972 and in India this system has been published in the year 1985 by Raja Rammohun. ISBN number is recognized throughout the human race as the small and clear machine readable identification number. The 13 digit number will be the book land of the EAN bar system. It is the fast system which is used for running the electronic point of sale system in book shops. ISBN Number in India executes the ordering and distribution of books which will be the fast and efficient method. In the modern environment ISBN will be the essential instrument and acts as the important factor in the book market. The ISBN Number in India will have the serial No.55 and the Indian ISBN agency takes many efforts to popularize the system by achieving maximum registration of publishers/authors. '''The various advantages of using ISBN Number in India includes:'''

Time and staff are saved and many copying mistakes are avoided. It is fast and efficient method. Rights management is done on the basis of ISBN. It does the accumulation of sales data. You can find the information from the books easily.

Some of the examples where the ISBN number will be assigned include printed books, pamphlets, Braille publications, educational software, media publications and maps. The structure of the ISBN number is divided into five elements in which three of them are variable length and first and last of them are of fixed length. These elements should be separated using hyphens or spaces when displayed in the human readable form.

ISBN for Self Publishers in India


ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number, a unique code that can be assigned to a book. While an ISBN is not required to publish a book, it is a good idea to get one for your book, specially if you want to sell it through standard book distribution channel. For selling it only through Pothi.com, you do not need to have an ISBN. ISBNs are allotted to publishers. Books on Pothi.com are usually published by the authors or their relatives individually. Earlier ISBNs were allotted only in blocks. But the good news for self-publishers is that now individual ISBNs can be allotted to the self-publishers too. What more - Getting an ISBN in India is free. You need to send an application to Raja Rammohan Roy National Agency for ISBN. The following details should be included in the application:

Title of Book: Author: Publisher: Self-Published Year of Publication: Place of Publication: Pages: Price: Subject: Language: Paperback or Hardback: Your address for communication Photocopy of the cover page Identification Proof A self addressed envelop for return communication Price: It is better if you put your price higher than that on Pothi.com (a mark-up of 40-60%). The reason being that when sold through other channels, the prices would usually have to be high to accommodate the margins for intermediaries.

You also need to enclose the following:

Important Points:

Hardback/Paperback: If a book is published in hardback as well as paperback, two different ISBNs need to be taken for the same. So, be clear about which version you want the ISBN for.

The application should be sent to the following address: Raja Rammohan Roy National Agency for ISBN Government of India Ministry of Human Resource Development A2/W4, Curzon Road Barracks Kasturba Gandhi Marg New Delhi: 110001 Phone: +91-11-23384687 Before you start using ISBN, please check out all the relevant information here. Follow these steps:

Make sure your book design is done so you know the number of pages. Finalize the book cover design. Decide on whether you want to publish paperback or hard cover book. If you want to publish both, you need two separate ISBNs for them.

o o

Decide the retail price of the book Download the template application MS Word Format Open office format Complete the application by inserting the details about your book. Include a copy of id proof (PAN card, passport, voter id card etc.), a print out of cover and a self addressed envelop for return communication Send the application to the agency at the address mentioned in the template application

NTERNATIONAL STANDARD BOOK NUMBER (ISBN)

1.

INTRODUCTION

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique International Publishers Identifier number, which is meant for monographic publications. ISBN is the thirteen-digit number, which replaces the handling of long bibliographic descriptive records. ISBN is known throughout the world as a short and clear machine-readable identification number, which marks any book unmistakably. ISBN is a machine readable in the form of 13-digit i.e. Book land EAN Bar Code. This is the fast system for the running of electronic point of sale system in bookshops. ISBN mainly executes ordering and distribution of books, which is the fast and efficient method. ISBN is the essential instrument in modern distribution and rationalization opportunities in the book trade. An ISBN is an important factor in book market.

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) system was introduced in the world in 1972 and in India this system was put into operation in January 1985 by Raja Rammohun National Agency for ISBN and in the alphabetical order of member countries, our country stands at serial No. 55. The Indian ISBN Agency is putting tremendous efforts to popularize the system in India in achieving maximum registration of publishers/authors and other Government/Semi Government organizations/ Institutions through mass media, publishers programmes, publicity through Newspapers, participation in various National Book Fairs, Book Exhibitions and through the help of various associations of publishers & booksellers etc.

The book industry in India is a large complex consisting of the wide range of professionals such as authors, editors, printers, booksellers and distributors etc. Today India is among the top multilingual publishing country in the th world. India is the 6 largest book producing country and ranks third in the production of the books in English after theUSA & UK .

The National Agency for ISBN is responsible for registration of Indian Publishers, Authors, Universities, Institutions and Government Departments who are responsible for publishing of books. To obtain an ISBN, Publishers have to fill up an application form, which is available on net also or can be collected personally or by post by sending a request to the agency at the following address.

Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN A2/W4, Curzon Road Barracks, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110001 Telephone No. 23384687, 23382549 (Extn. 12)

Since its inception the National Agency has registered 12,375 publishers in different categories and allocated 1020 single ISBNs to Author cum Publisher till December 2007. The agency is also sending the progress report which is to be included in the Publishers International ISBN Directory.

2.

ADVANTAGES OF ISBN

ISBN is a unique international identifier for monographic publications; assigning a number replaces the handling of long bibliographic descriptive records. Time and staff are saved and copying mistakes are avoided.

The ISBN allows compilation and updating of book trade directories and bibliographic databases, such as catalogues of books-in-print. Information on available books can be found easily.

Ordering and distribution of books is mainly executed by ISBN; that is a fast and efficient method.

The ISBN is a machine-readable in the form of a 13-digit EAN.UCC bar code. This is fast system and avoids mistakes.

The ISBN is needed for running of electronic point-of-sale systems in bookshops.

Rights management is mainly done on the basis of ISBN.

The ISBN does the accumulation of sales data. This enables the varying successes of different product forms and editions of publications to be monitored, as well as enabling comparisons between different subject areas and even different publishing houses.

The national lending right in some countries is based on the ISBN. Such schemes enable authors and illustrators to receive payments proportionate to the number of times that their books are lent out by public libraries.

3.

The Function and Scope of the ISBN

Recognised in more than 160 countries throughout the world, the international Standard Book Number is a short and clear identifier that is potentially machine-readable. The ISBN denotes a particular monographic publication uniquely and should, therefore, be associated with it from early production stages. An essential instrument in production, distribution, sales analysis, and bibliographic data storage systems in the book trade, ISBN is also of vital importance to library information management.

However, where a product is appropriate to another specific numbering system (such as continuing resources and ongoing integrating resources, which qualify for the ISSN, and printed music, which qualifies for the ISMN), then that system must be used. If appropriate, such identifiers should be used in conjunction with the ISBN.

ISBNs are assigned to monographic publications and certain types of related products that are available to the public, whether those publications and related products are available on a gratis basis or to purchase. In addition, individual sections (such as chapters) of monographic publications or issues or articles of continuing resources that are made available separately may also use the ISBN as an identifier. With regard to the various media available, it is of no importance in what physical form the content is documented and distributed; however, each product form should be identified separately.

Some examples of types of monographic publications to which an ISBN shall be assigned are:

Printed books and pamphlets Braille publications Publications that are not intended by the publisher to be updated regularly or continued indefinitely Individual articles or issues of a particular continuing resource (but not the continuing resource in its entirely) Maps Educational/instructional films, videos and transparencies Audio books on cassette, or CD, or DVD (talking books) Electronic publications either on physical carriers (such as machine-readable tapes, diskettes, or CDROMs) or on the Internet Digitised copies of print monographic publications, Microform publication Educational or instructional software Mixed media publications (where the principal constituent is text-based)

Some examples of the types of material to which an ISBN shall NOT be assigned are:

Continuing resources treated in their entirety as bibliographic entities (individual issues may qualify for ISBNs) Abstract entities such as textual works and other abstract creations of intellectual or artistic content Ephemeral printed materials such as advertising matter and the like Printed music Art prints and art folders without title page and text Personal documents (such as an electronic curriculum vitae or personal profile) Greeting cards Music sound recordings Software that is intended for any purpose other than educational or instructional Electronic bulletin boards E-mails and other electronic correspondence Games

4.

STRUCTURE OF ISBN

From 1 January, 2007 , an ISBN consists of 13 digits preceded by the letters ISBN.

The thirteen digit ISBN is divided into five elements, three of them of variable length; the first and last elements are of fixed length. The elements must each be separated clearly by hyphens or spaces when displayed in human readable form:

ISBN 978-81-8000-022-5 or ISBN 978 81 8000 022 5

Prefix element: 978

Group Identifier: 81 stands for India , which known as country code.

Publishers Prefix: 8000 stands for a particular publisher.

Title Identifier: 000 stands for the particular title.

Check digit: 5 The fifth element of the ISBN is the check digit. This is calculated using a modulus 10 algorithm. Each of the first 12 digits of the ISBN is alternately multiplied by 1 and 3. The check digit is equal to 10 minus the remainder resulting from dividing the sum of the weighted products of the first 12 digits by 10 with one exception. If this calculation results in an apparent check digit of 10, the check digit is 0.

5.

Application of ISBN

5.1. General
A separate ISBN must be assigned to every title, or edition of a title by each publisher, but NOT to an unchanged impression or unchanged reprint of the same title in the same format by the same publisher. Revised editions require a new ISBN. A price change does not call for a new ISBN. Changes of the format induce a new ISBN. The same title being published in a series and individually is treated as two different editions.

5.2. Facsimile reprints


A separate ISBN must be assigned to a facsimile reprint produced by a different publisher.

5.3. Publications in different product forms Different product forms of a publication (e.g., hardback, paperback, Braille, audiobook, online electronic publication) require separate ISBNs. Where electronic publications are made available in different formats (e.g. .lit, .pdf, .html, .pdb) each separately available format shall be assigned a unique ISBN.

5.4. Loose-leaf publications


If a publication appears in loose-leaf form an ISBN is assigned to identify an edition at a given time. Individual issues of additions or replacement sheets will also be given an ISBN, when they are separately stocked.

5.5. Multi-volume works


An ISBN must be assigned to the whole set of volumes of a multi-volume work; also, if individual volumes of the set are sold separately, each volume must be assigned its own ISBN. Thus the individual processing and sale of single volumes is made possible. Even when multi-volume works are only sold as a set, the assignment of ISBN to each volume isadvisable: It facilitates the handling of returns (damaged volumes) and the processing of shipments when not all volumes are published or distributed at the same time.

5.6. Backlist
A publisher is required to number all backlist publications and publish the ISBNs in catalogues. The ISBN must also be printed in the first available reprint of a backlist title.

5.7. Collaborative publications


A publication issued as a co-edition or joint imprint with other publishers is assigned an ISBN by the publisher in charge of distribution. Other co-publishers may assign their ISBNs if they want to.

5.8. Books sold or distributed by agents


(Except for a) this applies only to countries that are not yet participating in the system)

a.

b. c.

d.

As the ISBN standard states, a particular edition, published by a particular publisher, receives only one ISBN. This ISBN must be retained no matter where, or by whom; the book is distributed or sold. A book imported by an exclusive distributor or sole agent from an area which is not in the ISBN system and which has no ISBNs assigned to it, may be assigned an ISBN by the exclusive distributor. Books imported by an exclusive distributor or sole agent to which a new title page, bearing the imprint of the exclusive distributor, has been added in place of the title page of the original publisher, are to be given a new ISBN by the exclusive distributor or sole agent. The ISBN of the original publisher should also be given. A book imported by several distributors from an area not in the ISBN system and which has no ISBNs assigned to it, may be assigned an ISBN by the group agency responsible for those distributors.

5.9. Acquisition of one publisher by another


A publisher acquiring another publishing house must continue to use the originally assigned ISBN until the book is reprinted under the new company imprint.

5.10. Acquisition of complete stock of a publisher


A publisher acquiring the complete stock of another company must use the original publisher's assigned ISBN until the new company reprints under its own imprint.

5.11. Publishers with more than one place of publication


a. b. A publisher operating in several places which are listed together in the imprint of the book will assign only one ISBN to the book. A publisher operating separate and distinct offices or branches in different places may have a publisher identifier for each office or branch. However, each book published is to be assigned only one ISBN. This ISBN should be assigned by the office or branch responsible for publication.

5.12. Register of ISBN


It is the responsibility of all publishers to inform their group agency or the organization responsible for the maintenance of title registration of the ISBNs that have been assigned to published and forthcoming books. When the publisher does not take this responsibility, the group agency or the organization responsible for the maintenance of title registration is authorized to maintain the ISBN register of this publisher on its own initiative.

5.13. ISBN can never be re-used


An ISBN, once assigned, can never be re-used, under any circumstances. This is of the utmost importance to avoid confusion. If, through a clerical error, a number is incorrectly assigned, the number must be deleted from the list of useable numbers and must never be assigned to another title. Publishers should advise the group agency of the number(s) deleted and of the titles to which they were erroneously assigned.

6. ISBN for electronic publications

The ISBN also applies to electronic publications:


Offline items, like floppy disks and CD-ROMs, are treated like any other publication. Online items may be completed and finalised publications, like a textbook on the Internet. In this case an ISBN would suffice. An online publication may be a bibliographic or fact database that is subject to change any second. This would be comparable to an encyclopedia or dictionary which is also constantly updated in other media, without each little amendment leading to a new edition or new ISBN. Only significant and/or structural changes (including title changes) would require new ISBNs. Linked material (e.g. hypertext) would only be considered covered by the same ISBN if the related material is actually part of the publication. If an online publication is available under different operating systems and/or command languages, each edition would require a separate ISBN.

ISBN for eligible software products:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

An ISBN is used to identify a specific software product. If there is more than one version (perhaps versions adapted for different machines, carrier media or language version), each version must have a separate ISBN. When a software product is updated, revised or amended and the changes are sufficiently substantial for the product to be called a new edition, a new ISBN must be assigned. A relaunch of an existing product, even in new packaging, where there is no basic difference in the performance of the new and the old product, does not justify a new ISBN, and the original ISBN must be used. When software is accompanied by a manual which is useful only as an adjunct to the software, the software needs the manual before it can be operated, and they are sold as a package, one ISBN must be assigned to cover both items. When two or more items in a software package can be used separately, or are sold separately as well as together, then

a) the package as a whole must have an ISBN b) each item in the package must have an ISBN.
6. 7. An ISBN should be assigned to a software product independently of its physical form (e.g. if software is only available from a remote database from where it is downloaded to the customer.) As well as identifying the product itself, an ISBN identifies the producer or manufacturer; it should not be used to identify a distributor or wholesaler of the product.

7. Printing of ISBN

7.1. General
The ISBN must appear on the item itself. This is essential for the efficient running of the system. The ISBN must appear:

on the verso of the title page (copyright page) on the lower section of the outside back cover on the foot of the title page, if there is no space elsewhere on the bottom of the back dust jacket, or any other protective case, or wrapper on the base of the spine (only if the product is a paperback book) on the label of the container if the publication is issued in it (cassette, diskette, CD-ROM etc.) on the title display, or the first display (CD-ROM, internet publications) on the credit titles (film, video)

The ISBN should always be printed in type large enough to be easily legible (i.e. 9 point or larger).

7.2. ISBN in bar-coded form

The rapid, worldwide expansion of bar code scanning has brought into prominence the agreement reached between the EAN International (EAN), the Uniform Code Council (UCC), and the International ISBN and International ISMN Agency, which allows the ISBN to be

encoded into an EAN-13 bar code. This makes the ISBN an international identifier compatible with the worldwide bar coding scheme.

Representing the ISBN in an EAN-13 bar code symbology must be done in accordance with ISO/IEC 15420 (bar code symbology specification EAN/UPC) that requires the usage of EAN-13 symbols to be in line with the recommendations of EAN and UCC. An EAN bar code consists of thirteen digits.

An example of an ISBN encoded in an EAN-13 bar code symbol is shown below:

ISBN 978-1-873671-00-9

When used in a bar code, the ISBN must be displayed in human readable form immediately above the EAN-13 bar code symbol, preceded by ISBN.

Example of printing the ISBN in EAN -13 bar code symbol symbology:

Further information on the introduction and use of the EAN-13 bar code symbol is provided by the ISBN group agencies and the International ISBN Agency. Group agencies are encouraged to cooperate directly with the EAN organisations on a national or regional level.

The recommended location of the EAN-13 bar code symbol for publications is the lower right quadrant of the back, near the spine.

8. The functions of a group/national agency are:


To promote participation in the ISBNs system within its area. To manage and administer the affairs of the group. To decide, in co-operation with publishers and their representative agencies, the range of publisher identifiers required. To allocate publisher identifiers to eligible publishers and maintain a register of publishers and their identifiers. To decide, in consultation with publishers and their representative agencies, which publishers will assign numbers to their own titles, and which will have numbers assigned to their titles by the group agency. To advise publishers on the correct and proper implementation of the system. To provide materials and resources that ensure the proper implementation of the ISBN standard. To make available computer print-outs of ISBNs to publishers numbering their own books with check digits already calculated. To inform publishers of any invalid or duplicate ISBN assigned by them. To provide technical advice and assistance to publishers and ensure that standards and approved procedures are observed in the group. To encourage and promote the Bookland EAN bar code format. To encourage and promote the importance of the ISBN for a proper listing of titles with book listing and bibliographical agencies. To maintain liaison with all elements of the book industry and introduce new publishers to the system. To assist the book industry in the use of the ISBN in computer systems. To handle relations with the International ISBN Agency on behalf of all the publishers in the group. To keep and make available the files of assigned publisher identifiers and title numbers. If the National Bibliography fulfils the latter task, the agency does not have to duplicate this effort. To report regularly to the International ISBN Agency.

9.

Publisher administration

Publishers are responsible for assigning title identifiers to the individual items they publish and for ensuring the application of pertinent regulations. Upon request they may receive a publisher identifier from a group agency and a printout of the ISBNs that are available to them in combination with the allocated publisher identifier. A publisher will be assigned a publisher identifier by a national group agency which will determine the range of title identifiers available to the publisher. The number of title identifiers will depend on the length of the publisher prefix assigned. The publisher should ensure that the group agency has as much information as possible about all available backlists and should advise the group agency of all present and future publications in order to enable the assignment of a suitably sized publisher identifier. Publishers are encouraged to contact book listing and bibliographical agencies for publication of their titles and ISBNs assigned to those titles.

Further information and detailed instructions are available from the ISBN group agencies and from the International ISBN Agency.

10.

Practical uses of ISBN

The ISBN is used in all branches of the book sector.

ISBN in publishing houses is used for:

identifying firm publication projects from the manuscript to the printer title identification in publishers' catalogues and advertisements listing in printed directories, electronic directories and in Internet-sites stock control copyright management management of royalties processing of orders accounting and billing monitoring sales data producing statistics handling of returns

ISBN in Books in Print services, distribution centres, and wholesalers is used for:
building bibliographic databases for the book trade like Books in Print building databases of titles in stock ordering services based on electronic communication systems like EDI (electronic data interchange) or via the Internet stock control monitoring internal logistic processes accounting and billing producing sales data returns administration producing subject lists and catalogues

ISBN in centralized service organisations for libraries (producing ready-to-borrow copies) is used for:
ordering at the publishers or wholesalers processing orders from libraries stock control monitoring internal logistic processes accounting and billing administration of rebinding processes

ISBN in bookshops is used for:

bibliographic searches tracing addresses ordering and re-ordering processes based on electronic communication systems like EDI (electronic data interchange) or via the Internet stock administration accounting and billing the end consumer electronic point-of-sale system (EPOS)

ISBN in libraries is used for:


ordering copy-cataloguing lending statistics national lending right interlending

union catalogues

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