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Questions tagged [isbn]

A code used to register and keep track of books.

A code used to register and keep track of books. It stands for International Standard Book Number. It's a 10- or 13-digit number which is purchased and assigned to your work to keep track of your book in publishing and selling databases. Can be purchased individually or in blocks if you are self-publishing, or is assigned by a publisher.

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What is the difference between ISSN and ISBN?

Can anyone explain in layman's terms, using simple terminology, what exactly is the difference between ISSN and ISBN? There are lots of links on the internet, but they are complicated and use legal terms, and don't explain the difference very well.…
Karan Desai
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If I get a free ISBN through Amazon's CreateSpace now, will that impact any decisions about getting my own ISBN later?

I am preparing my book for print-on-demand through Amazon's CreateSpace service, and I am trying to understand the options for getting an ISBN. I am a little confused. CreateSpace offers a "free" ISBN, and calls it an "ISBN", but says "This ISBN can…
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When do I need a new ISBN?

I am about to obtain some ISBNs for a few books I plan to publish as an eBook and possibly in print. From books I have bought from major publishers, I gather that the eBook and print version have separate ISBNs. I also gather that a new edition of a…
Manngo
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Should DOIs ever be preferred to ISBNs?

Any ISBN yields a DOI. For example, the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed. has ISBN 978-0-226-10420-1, which maps to doi:10.978.226/104201, allowing any book to be digitally identified in a reference list by either ISBN or DOI. Which should be…
Charles Stewart
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ISBN - is it possible to have one and a title before publishing?

i am currently writing a book but would like to know if i can pre register an ISBN and Book title. I am little concerned someone might call their book the same as mine before i finish it. So i really want to secure the title/isbn. Are there any…
user1738894
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ISBN - does it uniquely identify book dimension?

(I'm not sure this question fits here but this site seems the most appropriate within stackexchange network...) I'm trying to buy a some book from NHBS (a field guide). The problem is that the same field guide is often printed in 2 versions:…
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I want to traditionally publish my work but I have multiple ISBNs what do I do?

I have four poetry books and two nonfiction books I have self-published but now I have removed them from the web so I can traditionally publish them. Is there anything I need to do? Can I keep using the ISBNs or do I have to change my titles to…
JI Soucie
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How to Create Barcode from ISBN Number

I have published some story books for kids and I have already bought the ISBN numbers for the same. But I am confused on how to get those ISBN numbers as barcodes on covers of books. What is the cheapest way to do this? Please advise.
Elliott Maynard
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Did I set up my book series titles and ISBNs wrong?

I currently have 4 books all under one series that are self published. The way I have been setting up the titles through Ingramspark and under my ISBNs has been: Title: Name of the Book Series Subtitle: Name of individual book. I'm wondering if…
Krys
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ISBN Add-On for different countries

I want to publish my book in the UK, US, CA and AU. Now the prices and currencies are different for each of these countries. Barnes & Noble says that they require a barcode with a price in it (EAN 5) on the backside of the cover. What should I do…
del4y
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ISBN codes for privately sold books?

We are starting a community site for budding authors. Here the young writers send a pdf files of there writing and we get them printed at a lower prices than other publishers. And these books are only sold through our internal network of shops. So I…
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Is it possible to tweak a book title after it's got an ISBN?

We organized an ISBN for a book last year, while it was still in the planning stage. As the book develops, it looks like the title we gave with the ISBN isn't quite right, and another title would be better. Is it too late?
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How to deal with two ISBN from two different countries?

Since the book I am working on will be published in two different countries, it has two ISBN. The tricky question here is this: must both the ISBN barcode be placed onto the back cover of the book? One of the ISBN is from U.S and seems like it is a…
Chip
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What country to buy an ISBN when your language is different to the country you live in?

I live in France, so to obtain physical copies of my book (which is in English) for selling in book shops or giving away it is too expensive to order from Amazon because of high postage charges. So I would like to get them printed in the UK.This…
Tony Edwards
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Why are costs for ISBN less in Australia, until you order 1,000?

As I was looking up the Bowker website for when I go to buy ISBNs I found it has separate URLs for The US and for Australia (which is good because I'm Australian). but the prices seem....strange No. of ISBNs | US Cost | USD -> AUSD | Aus…
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