Overview

Introduction
Number Structure
Retrospective Conversion
Responsibility for Changes
FAQs
Glossary: Terminology & Acronyms
Key Dates

Retrospective Conversion

Publishers will need to recalculate all their ISBNs and accommodate the new number format in their systems. This will include ISBNs for all titles in print, probably all or most out of print titles for which orders or other inquiries might be received, and for all outstanding unallocated ISBNs supplied by local agencies.

Software will be widely available for small-scale conversions, and systems providers may supply conversion programs to their customers. For more information regarding the publishers’ role in the ISBN-13 transition, please go here.

Booksellers will need to process 13-digit ISBNs for ordering, invoicing, and other functions beginning January 1, 2007, and may wish to be in a position to do so as soon as possible. Some booksellers’ systems will already be capable of handling 13-digit product numbers used by the EAN system. Booksellers who have recently upgraded their systems are most likely to already have the capability. For more information regarding the booksellers’ role in the ISBN-13 transition, please go here.

Libraries and library-system vendors using ISBN for catalogs and bibliographic databases will need to support both existing 10-digit ISBNs and new 13-digit ISBNs on or before January 1, 2007.

These systems must be able to accommodate whatever form of ISBN appears in the published work in the bibliographic record as well as permit a patron to use either format in a search of the database.

Retrospective conversion of existing bibliographic records is not anticipated. However, in the modules supporting online searching, some accommodation must be made to allow numbers belonging to the “978” series—as well as all the 10-digit ISBNs—to be searched for equally in both forms regardless of the format of the ISBN in the individual bibliographic record.

For book purchasing and other trade-related requirements, libraries and library system vendors should be prepared to move over to the 13-digit ISBN for all book ordering and other tasks by January 1, 2007. For more information regarding the libraries’ role in the ISBN-13 transition, please go here.