On the back cover of the books you have probably noticed a number printed above the bar code indicated with the abbreviation "ISBN". This is a unique numerical series used by publishing houses, libraries and bookstores to identify book titles and editions. It is not a useful detail for the average reader, but it is possible to learn something more about the book thanks to the ISBN code.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Using the ISBN
Step 1. Find the number
The title's ISBN should be on the back cover and is typically printed on top of the barcode. It is always indicated with the ISBN prefix and consists of 10 or 13 digits.
- The code should also be available on the copyright page.
- It is divided into four parts, each separated by a dash. For example, the ISBN code of the famous Il Cucchiaio d'Argento cookbook is 88-7212-223-6.
- Books published before 2007 have a numerical series of 10 digits, while the ISBN of those published from 2007 onwards consists of 13 identifying digits.
Step 2. Locate the publisher
One of the most interesting information you can get from this code is the volume of a publisher's output. The 10 and 13-digit codes are constructed in such a way that both the publisher and the title of the book can be identified. If the code for the first is long, but the title code contains only one or two digits, it means that the publisher expects to place only a few books on the market or it could also be a self-edition.
Conversely, if the title section is long and the publisher's section is short, the book was published by one of the major publishers
Step 3. Use an ISBN to self-publish a book
If you are going to sell your own manuscript in bookstores, you need this code, even if you plan to do it yourself. You can purchase the number series on the ISBN.org website. You must purchase a code for each title you plan to bring to market and for each edition, including paperback and hardcover. The more codes you buy at once, the more you save.
- Each nation has its own ISBN control agency.
- A single code costs € 80, two codes € 150, three codes € 220, four € 280 and five codes € 340. All prices are inclusive of VAT and refer to self-publishing.
Part 2 of 3: Interpreting a 10-Digit ISBN
Step 1. Look at the first set of digits that refer to the language
The first sequence indicates the language and geographical area in which the book was published. The number "0" is assigned to the United States, "1" means that the book was published by another English-speaking country, while the prefix "88" indicates an Italian publication.
For English texts, the language prefix is usually a single digit, while for other languages it can be longer
Step 2. Look at the second set of numbers which provides information about the publisher
The "0" - or in the case of the Italian texts the number "88" - is followed by a hyphen. The numeric code between the first two dashes is the publisher prefix. Each publishing house has its own identification code, which can be found in each ISBN of the books it publishes.
Step 3. Look at the third set of numbers for information on the title
The code that uniquely refers to the title of the work is inserted between the second and third indents. Each edition of a book published by a particular publisher has its own title identification number.
Step 4. Pay attention to the last number, the control code
It should be predetermined through a mathematical calculation involving the digits that precede it; it is used to verify that the code is not being misread.
- Sometimes, the last digit might be an "X", the Roman numeral which means 10.
- The control number is calculated using a modulo 10 algorithm.
Part 3 of 3: Interpreting a 13-Digit ISBN
Step 1. Look at the first three numbers to determine where the work was published
It is a prefix that changes over time. Since the 13-digit code was implemented, this series has only taken the values "978" or "979".
Step 2. Look at the second series of numbers for information on the language
The code referring to the language in which the book was published is located between the first and second indents. It can consist of 1 to 5 digits and identifies the language, country and region corresponding to the title.
Books published in the United States should carry the code "0", while works printed in other English-speaking countries have the code "1". Italy is identified with the code "88" in the 13-digit ISBNs with the prefix "978" and with the number "12" in those with the prefix "979"
Step 3. Consider the third number sequence for information about the publisher
Between the second and third indents of the ISBN you will find the number assigned to the publisher, which can consist of up to seven digits. Each publisher has their own distinctive code.
Step 4. Pay attention to the fourth series which refers to the title of the work
It is between the third and fourth indents of the ISBN and can consist of one digit up to a maximum of six. Each title and edition has its own distinctive code.
Step 5. Look at the last digit, which corresponds to the control value
The last number has control functions and should be determined through a mathematical calculation involving the previous digits. It is used to verify that the rest of the code has not been read incorrectly.
- Sometimes, the check digit is an "X", which actually represents the Roman numeral 10.
- The control value is calculated using a modulo 10 algorithm.
