Forthcoming Expansion to 10 Digit ISBN-Code will Impact Entire Industry

by Nate Spillman

On January 1, 2007 the International Standard Book Number, commonly known as the ISBN code, will officially expand from a 10 digit to a 13 digit numbering system.

The expansion impacts the entire book and publishing industry, including all actors in the book supply pipeline, and is occurring, mainly, to compensate for industry changes that were unforeseen in the late 1960s when the current system was developed for printed books.

According to the Website www.isbn.org, these changes include the rapid emergence of electronic publishing and a coming shortage of available ISBN numbers in certain regions of the world.

All books published before January 1, 2007 will still use ISBN-10s, but beginning with the new year all books will have the new ISBN-13s.

Most book publishers have prepared for the transition to the ISBN-13 system by using both the new ISBN-13 and the ISBN-10 in their marketing and communications strategies, and by including the ISBN-13 beneath the published book's bar code and its assigned ISBN-10.

On January 1, when the ISBN-13 becomes the new ISBN, use of the ISBN-10 will gradually fade away. Since customers may continue ordering products using the ISBN-10 after Jan. 1, it's important that publishers/wholesalers maintain a capability to process ISBN-10s, while dissuading its use.

In addition to ensuring that enough ISBNs are available for all future publications, the new ISBN-13 creates another advantage for the publishing and retail industry. By increasing the number to 13 characters rather than 11, the ISBN-13 can become part of the worldwide product identifier system known as the EAN, or the International Article Number (formerly known as the European Article Number). Since an EAN is assigned to all products sold worldwide, a compatible ISBN makes distributing and selling books worldwide easier.

The ISBN-13 is created by using two new prefixes, 978 and 979. By adding the new 978 prefix to the current ISBN-10 and by replacing the old ISBN-10 check digit with a new check digit, the ISBN-13 is created. Once all 978 prefixes are assigned, the 979 prefix will be used.

For excellent information on the ISBN-13, visit www.isbn.org. Here, you'll also find a free conversion tool that will help you change your old ISBN-10s into ISBN-13s.