The Function and Scope of ISBN
Printing of the ISBN
The ISBN is an international system for numbering books, designed to provide unique identification for all books published.
Background
The question of the need for and feasibility of an international numbering system for books was first discussed at the Third International Conference on Book Market Research and Rationalization in the Book trade, held in November 1966 in Berlin. An automated system, unique that provides simple identification number for a published item: the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) system was developed out of the book numbering system introduced in the United Kingdom in 1967 by J. Whitaker & sons, LTD., and in the United States in 1968 by R.R. Bowker.
Structure of ISBN
An ISBN always consists of thirteen digits preceded by the letters ISBN. The thirteen-digit number is divided into five parts of variable length, which must be separated clearly by hyphens:
ISBN 978-9953-0-0000-8
-
978
- Group identifier 9953 (specifies the country or the language in which the book is published)
- Publisher prefix 0 (identifies the publisher of the book)
- Title number 0000 (identifies one specific title, binding or one edition of a title)
-
Check digit 8 (permits a mathematical check of the accuracy of the ISBN)
The word “book” is used in this brochure in the sense of “publication”.
Administration of the ISBN System
The administration of the ISBN system in Lebanon is the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and became operational in February 2000 at the special request of his Excellency Mr. Mohamad Youssef Baydoun, the minister of culture then, and of the Lebanese Publishers Association. And upon a visit to Lebanon for signing the agreement between the International Agency and the Republic of Lebanon, it was decided then that the National Library will take over the tasks of this agency, but now it's under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture.
Printing of the ISBN
The ISBN must appear on the item itself. This is essential for the efficient running of the system.
The ISBN must appear:
- On the copyright page
- On the lower section of the back cover
An ISBN, once used can never be re-used, under any circumstances. This is of the utmost importance to avoid confusion.
Advantages of the ISBN
- The ISBN is a unique international identifier for monographic publications: the thirteen digit number therefore replaces the handling of long bibliographic descriptive records. Time and staff are saved, copying mistakes are avoided.
- The ISBN allows compilation and updating of book-trade directories, like Books in print. Information on available books can be found easily.
- Ordering and distribution of books is mainly executed by ISBN; this is a fast and efficient method.
- The ISBN is machine-readable in the form of a 13-digit book-land EAN bar code. This is fast and avoids mistakes.
- The ISBN is needed for the running of electronic point-of-sale systems in bookshops.
- Rights management is mainly done on the basis of ISBN.
- Sales data monitoring is done by ISBN.
- Libraries profit from copy-cataloguing by ISBN.
- The national lending right in some countries is based on ISBN.
Every Lebanese publisher/author has the right to obtain a range of ISBN numbers (provided he presents all the required documentations), further information can be obtained by simply calling the Ministry of Culture.
Required Documents:
1- Official application addressed to the Ministry of Culture (ISBN Agency).
2- The publisher business license (issued by the Ministry of Information).
ISBN Request Form
For more information, contact: 01/744251-2-3 EXT: 4-300
or e-mail: rita_akl@hotmail.com
