PROCEDURES IN ISBN APPLICATION AND MAINTENANCE

• Request for information brochure on the ISBN. Metro-Manila based publishers may secure ISBN personally from the Bibliographic Services Division (BSD) of The National Library (TNL). Publishers in the regions may seek inquiries by writing to:
  
  
  The Philippine ISBN Agency
  Bibliographic Servicies Division
  T.M. Kalaw St.
  Ermita, Manila 1000
  
  
• Requests for information also be entertained by phone (524-10-11) or FAX (524-10-11)
  
  
• Determine if your publications require an ISBN or not.
  
  

  Publications requiring ISBN books pamphlets microforms educational kits or mixed media publications braille publications other similar media

  Publications not requiring ISBN ephemeral printed materials (e.g., diaries, calendars, advertisements, etc.) art prints sound recordings serial publications

  
  
• If the publication requires an ISBN, secure from the BSD the following forms:
  
  
  • Fact Sheet (information about the publisher) and
  • Information Sheet (information about the title of a publication)
  
  
• Fill up the above forms. Leave the Fact Sheet with the BSD. You will be issued a copy of the Information Sheet you earlier filled up.
  
  
• Submit to a brief interview by designated BSD staff. The interview will focus on whether the publisher is also the financier; his/her address, telephone number, and contact person; publisher's inputs; and area of specialization
  
  
• Based on information you submitted, you will then be issued the ISBN for your publication. The ISBN is always made up of 10 digits divided into four parts, namely:
  
  
  • the language group identifier/geographic region identifier/country identifier (in the Philippines, 971 is the country identifier),
    
    
  • publisher prefix (a variable number that indicates the publisher's inputs; the shorter the number, the higher the publication outputs);
    
    
  • title identifier (also a variable number, depending on the length of the publisher prefix, which means that the publisher must give full information on his/her backlists, books still available, and present and future publications so that a suitable title identifier can be assigned); and
    
    
  • check digit ( a computer-generated number that may range from 0 to X)
  
  
• Be reminded that cases when a separate ISBN is needed or not arise as follows:
  
  
  • A separate ISBN to every different edition of a book but not to an unchanged reprint of the same book in the same format and by the same publisher
    
    
  • Price changes do not need a new ISBN
    
    
  • Different formats of a title need a separate ISBN. A hardback edition and a paper back edition each receives a separate ISBN. So does a microform format of the same title.
    
    
  • A facsimile reprint produced by a different publisher needs a separate ISBN.
    
    
  • An ISBN must be assigned to the whole set of volumes in a multi-volume works as well as each individual volume in the set.
    
    
  • An ISBN is assigned to a publication issued as a co-edition or joint imprint with other publishers.
    
    
  • An ISBN is assigned to a book imported by an exclusive distributor or sole agent from an area not yet in the ISBN system and for which no ISBN has been assigned.
    
    
  • Only one ISBN is given in case of a publisher operating in a number of places which are listed together in the imprint of the publication.
    
    
  • A publisher operating separate and distinct offices or branches in different places may have a publisher identifier for each office or branch. But each book published is to be assigned only one ISBN.
  
  
• Write or call the BSD in case of clerical errors in ISBN allocation, confusion in the grouping or selection of numbers, and when immediate issuance of ISBNs is needed.
  
  
• Take note of information relayed by the BSD on any incorrect assignment of the ISBN. This may arise from a misgrouping of the four parts of the ISBN. When this happens, the publisher has to mount a sticker on top of the incorrect ISBN. For subsequent printings, the correct ISBN must already appear.
  
  
• Keep a register of ISBNs that have been assigned (referring to your files of Informamtion Sheets or your own listings) and for forthcoming books. Keep register in numerical sequence containing information on the ISBN, author, title, and edition of such publication.
  
  
• Number backlist titles and publish the ISBNs in catalogues and promotional materials. Print the ISBN in the first available reprint of a backlist item.
  
  
• See to it that an ISBN, once assigned, must under no circumstances be reused.
  
  
• Print the ISBN on all of the following locations:
  
  
  • reverse side of title page, or base of title page, or in some other location in the book
    
    
  • base of the spine
    
    
  • back of the cover in 9-point type or larger to be legible
    
    
  • back of dust jacket, and on the back of any other protective case or wrapper.