ISBN Registration

What is an ISBN?

The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a 13-digit number that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally. It is a system of numerical identification for books, pamphlets, educational kits, microforms, CD-ROMs and other digital and electronic publications. Assigning a unique number to each published title provides that title with its own, unduplicated, internationally recognized identifier. Publishers, booksellers, libraries and others in the book industry use ISBN in order to expedite the handling and retrieval of publications.

Please note that periodicals, magazines, journals and other types of serial publications are not eligible for ISBN. They are covered by a separate identification system called International Standard Serial Number (ISSN).

Who needs an ISBN？
Publishing houses
The ISBN serves as a unique identifier for
(1).monographic publications, from manuscript through all editorial and manufacture processes until the item is finished
(2).stock control
(3).ordering
(4).accounting
(5).handling or returns
(6).sales data monitoring
(7).right and royalty management

Book traders
The ISBN serves as a unique identifier for
(1).ordering / teleordering
(2).accounting and billing
(3).bibliographic searches
(4).stock control
(5).electronic point-of-sale systems
(6).Books in Print directories

Libraries
The ISBN serves as a unique identifier for
(1).ordering
(2).information retrieval
(3).copy cataloguing
(4).circulation and interlending
(5).national lending rights
(6).the national bibliography

How to get an ISBN?
Presently, more than 160 countries or territories are official ISBN members. If you wish to obtain an ISBN, you should contact the national or regional ISBN agency in your own country. Tannet is an agency with professional advice and a massive international service platform. Please contact Tannet responsible for you. Here you will get further information on the procedure of ISBN assignment.