Can the same book have two different isbn numbers

You can show both numbers in the ebook or print book although only the isbn is necessary. In fact, isbns are so specific that an ebook, paperback, and hardcover version of the same work will each have its own isbn. Correctly record and analyse sales data for different books, different editions, different volumes etc. A barcode is a visual method used to convey an isbn to a computer using scanning technology during a sales or inventory transaction process.

Sometimes publishers do reuse isbns but the goodreads database doesnt allow two different books to have the same isbn. What is an international standard book number isbn. The number sequence across the top of the bar code is the humanreadable isbn. A barcode is a visual method used to convey an isbn to a computer using scanning technology during a. Because there are too many books in this damn world. If you are making substantial textual changes that would qualify as a new edition. Does the isbn have any meaning imbedded in the numbers. Bar code scanning is a required step required by for many retailers in the sales transaction process for book publications and book related items.

Isbn information the difference between an isbn and a barcode. The barcode you see on the back of a book is derived from an isbn, but the two are not the same. The tags mine now carries are not the ones i entered that really, really shouldnt happen. If you think you might change the price of your book, e. If the price of the book changes you do not need a new. Jul 28, 2011 i notice that eans can be used interchangeably when i sell textbooks on your pricing page. If you are offering your book as a mobi, epub and a pdf, you need three different isbns. Try searching for both your isbns in the textbook search engine and see what comes.

Favorite answer probably just a different edition, or reprinting of an older textbook. Contrast these examples with the superb warner bros series inside the script unfortunately it is no longer published as of 2021. Every edition of a book must have a different isbn. Isbn stands for international standard book number and must be unique for each title and format. Do two copies of the same book have different isbn codes. The isbn is used internationally and requires a different number for each version of the book. Can i use the same isbn for my print book and ebook. The isbn is ten digits long if assigned before 2007, and thirteen digits long if assigned on or after 1 january 2007. International standard book numbers are used by publishers and. Thus a hardcover edition of a book will carry a different isbn than.

Adobe acs4 with substantially the same usage constraints and are interoperable on different devices or software, then a single isbn should be used. Occasionally you will find two entirely different books will have the same bar code but in my experience where books have the same title and isbn, they are normally just different print runs of the same actual book. If a book is sold both individually and as a set, a new isbn is need for the set. The version is the same number but with a prefix to identify it as being for book publishing. Are different isbns used if a book appears in different languages. In the us, american authors can obtain an isbn through the us isbn office. Although two isbns are listed, both refer to the same book. They will often reprint the page of the original book, however, which can add to the confusion for catalogers and collectors. The issn suffers from some of the same challenges with respect to format as the isbn. A series of books is also eligible for an issn international standard series number, available from the library of congress. No distributor or retailer including amazon will offer your book for sale without an isbn. For example, an e book, a paperback and a hardcover edition of. Publishers who wish to have their isbns translated into worldwide compatible bar codes can now make their request directly online at.

Since 1970 most books have had unique 10digit isbn, and in 2007 the digit isbn was introduced. An isbn is assigned to each separate edition and variation except reprintings of a publication. Isbn and international translations for sale in another. Two separate books, same isbn evidently frequently.

Jul 29, 2009 favorite answer probably just a different edition, or reprinting of an older textbook. Every isbn consists of thirteen digits since 2007 and whenever it is printed it is preceded by the letters isbn. If you look on the back cover of almost any book, you will see a familiar set of black and white zebra stripes and above it a long number preceded by the letters isbn. It should be made clear which number identifies which publisher. Jan 31, 2020 the international standard book number isbn is a digit number that is required to uniquely identify a book. You do not need a us isbn to sell your canadian book in. Here in the us, isbns are issued by bowkerthe official agency responsible for issuing identifiers for print and digital books. The isbn is permanently tied to each version of your book. Each particular edition of any published book has to have its own unique number, so you can t use the same number if you choose to republish an already. Guidelines for assignment to ebooks international isbn. For a complete rundown of pricing, please click here. As an author or publisher, you can buy isbns on an individual basis, or buy them in bulk.

For example, your hardbound edition would have one isbn while your. When professors assign books to their students, the isbn of the assigned books is often provided to the students or the bookstore in order to make sure that everyone purchases the same edition. Jun 23, 2016 isbn stands for international standard book number. Typically, a publication could have two different issn numbers. Some vendors, such as amazon, will convert the epub to a different format. The isbn is not only confined to printed material, but is assigned to each version of publication of a book that exists. Also note that there is only one barcode on the back of the book. An isbn number can be used to identify the books code digits. Isbn should identical isbn have the same content general. Isbn format is a universal format that can be read by any bar code reader. You must have noticed the isbn, on the back cover of a book, next to the barcode. The isbn is ten digits long if assigned before 2007, and thirteen digits long if.

Two books may have precisely the same content but be issued different isbns because they come from different printings. The isbns must be digit isbns, rather than 10 digit. I have a book with a different isbn on the cover than the. No joke if you look carefully youll see that each book has a 10 digit code and a digit code. Aug 16, 2008 until someone else weighs in, heres my temporary answer. You can also write a note about why the isbns are in the description field if you want. For example, paperback and hardcover versions of the same title will have different isbns. Theres a procedure i followed to move the expanded portion of the distribution from createspace to ingram which bypasses having to pay ingram any fees but its not difficult. Some vendors, such as amazon, will convert the epub to a different format mobi.

Each version of every published book has its own isbn regardless of whether youre printing your book, selling it as an ebook, or both. Sep 04, 2020 technically you not only need an isbn but you need a different isbn for each format your ebook is being offered. At least twoone for the print edition and one for the epub. Thus a hardcover edition of a book will carry a different isbn than a paperback edition of the same book, and a revised edition of a book gets a new isbn even if it carries the same title. No, as isbn stands for international standard book number. The same book in the same format with the same isbn can only be published by one publisher.

This is an example of an isbn barcode using isbn format. If a book is reprinted by its same publisher without any changes or revisions, it will keep the same isbn. Each country has different isbn blocks, hence the multiple isbns. For example, an e book, a paperback and a hardcover edition of the same book will each have a different isbn. Each version ebook, hardcover, paperback, or audiobook will require a separate isbn. An isbn is a unique number used by libraries, bookstores, etc. Frequently asked questions about isbn number for books. If i were you, i would leave the one that already has the isbn in the goodreads database alone.

You cannot use the same isbn for paperback as you used for hardbound, and. On some books, the isbn can be found on the page featuring the and publisher information. For example, the hardcover edition, the trade paperback, the mass market paperback, the ebook, and the audiobook, all have a different isbn. For example, an e book and a paperback version of the same book would each have different isbns. A translation, of course, is a different publication. Mar 25, 2015 if you change the title, your book will no longer be easily searchable with the original number.

I have a scanner and i notice when i scan the barcode on the backs of my used books, the digit ean appears, and then i scan the whole stack of books into your website. Sep 24, 2017 26 of my books are on both createspace and ingram, and the isbn is shared between the two for each. Isbn international standard book number is a digit numeric code that serves as. For nearly all cases, however, the onetoone relationship holds. An international standard book number isbn is a unique number identifier that is assigned to each edition of a book. In the case of a joint publication, both publishers are entitled to have an isbn on the book. An isbn international standard book number is intended to identify a unique edition of a book. Jul 24, 2012 are you basically saying that if the edition and the isbn number were the same, it should be almost the correct book if the published date is a year off. An isbn is a digit number used to identify books and similar items. The purpose of an isbn is to give your book a universal id, which makes it easy for bookstores, libraries, readers, publishers, or anybody to find or refer to your book. The short answer to the question of whether an e book needs an isbn is that there is no requirement at all for any book to have an isbn number as such, regardless of whether it is a printed book or an e book. Note that in the following circumstances, it will become necessary to apply for a new isbn. The system is currently being moved to the digit code and so to avoid confusion most books have the old system and the new system printed on them.

A reissue of a book sometimes often requires a new isbn. No, you will need to use a unique isbn for each version of your book. Most likely its because the publisher published the book in different countries. I have the same book, but with different isbn 9781906103866. While professors will assign a set of specific editions to their classes, it is often worthwhile to contact the professor and ask if an older edition of. Isbn is an acronym that translates to international standard book number. A necessary requirement for selling physical books through booksellers, wholesalers, and distributors is the assignment of unique isbn numbers for each title and a corresponding barcode symbol on the back cover isbn identification is a global standard to uniquely identify individual titles and formats. Isbn numbers and ean numbers a way to sell textbooks. Two separate books, same isbn evidently frequently asked. Goodreads librarians group same isbn, different editions. The isbn international standard book number is a 10 or digit code that uniquely identifies each edition of every textbook ever written. Amazon will offer your e book for sale if it doesnt have an isbn, but theyll assign their own asin amazon standard identification number to your e book.

Why does a book sometimes have two different isbns. Buying college text books question regarding isbn and. A textbook will have a separate isbn for each edition. If publisher a publishes a book as a 6x9 trade paperback with isbn x, that publisher is the only publisher publishing that particular edition of that book.

Isbn stands for international standard book number. If, however, the same drm software is used on two versions but with significantly different usage constraints e. If the different versions are in the same format and use the same drm software e. The same book as an e book, paperback, hardcover and other edition. Aug 18, 2016 your book s isbn international standard book number is the 10 or digit number assigned to every published book, and identifies things like edition, publisher and physical properties. The position with isbns and e books is essentially no different a situation to that with isbns and printed books.

Everything you need to know about isbns and college books. This is a unique numeric commercial book identifier except reprinting of a book. Since 1970 most books have had unique 10digit isbn, and in 2007 the. It is sensible to mention the different covers though as sometimes buyers are collecting a specific set of covers. Isbn information the difference between an isbn and a. My dd is worried that if a professor says read pages 1100 that if she has a wrong book one that shows a different published date that she may not be reading the correct material or not. Jun 30, 2017 an isbn or international standard book number is a digit number uniquely identifying books and book like products. Technically you not only need an isbn but you need a different isbn for each format your ebook is being offered. I have a book with a different isbn on the cover than the one given inside the book, i suppose one is a misprint. Typing the 10 digit number isbn is easier when i have a whole bunch of books to price. Different isbn numbers for the same book kdp community. Guidelines for assignment to ebooks international isbn agency. Its also the case that different editions of a book have different isbns.

The number is used to differentiate one title, or edition of a title, from a specific publisher. Thats whats going on in your case, and you can cite either the isbn or the isbn 10. Goodreads librarians group i found 2 different book. If each volume is available separately and as a set, each volume gets an isbn and the set gets an isbn. Can you use the same isbn for both kindle and epub. Publishers shouldnt reuse isbns, but sometimes they do. Most of my clients have at minimum a paperback and ebook, so they need a minimum of two isbns. International edition textbooks have a different isbn than the standard edition. Why are there different isbn numbers for the same book. Good luck trying to get apples itunes store or any other eretailer to accept amazons. Do i need different isbns for createspace and ingram.