ISBN is an international system for registering and identifying books, with a unique identification number assigned to each one. Publishers typically apply for an ISBN, and the system covers books in print, out of print, and soon to be published. The system has revolutionized the international book trade, with 159 countries and territories as official members. The organization also provides other services to publishers, including assigning a Bowker barcode and recommending book printers.
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a system that dates back to 1970 and is used for registering books and assigning a unique identification number to each one; ISBNs are used internationally. Typically, publishers are the ones that apply for an ISBN, and the first set of numbers unique to that publisher is referred to as the publisher prefix.
In the early 19th century both the United States and the United Kingdom were working on developing an international directory of every book published. The goal was to keep the publishing industry strong and healthy. The directories they created were the beginning of the current ISBN bibliography used today. The ISBN system covers books currently in print, out of print, and books soon to be published.
While the early proponents of a centralized book directory did not realize this, they paved the way for the future computerization of all publications. By having a standardized numbering system, the ISBN organization is able to keep track of all books in print. This is an extraordinary task when you consider that there are approximately 50,000 new titles released every year.
The current ISBN registration system allows publications to be read automatically, a process which has revolutionized the international book trade. There are currently 159 countries and territories that are official members of the ISBN organization. The organization acts as a trade association providing other services than book registration to publishers worldwide. These services include assigning a Bowker barcode to each ISBN so it can be scanned at retailers. The group also provides a list of recommended book printers and related resources for publishers.
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