Calling Librarians

[Louise-Montreal]

I have a question about the ISBN. I have noticed on Amazon that there are two ISBN's for books. One starts with 10 and the other starts with 13. Can anyone tell what the difference is?

Thanks,
Louise

 

[harleyquinn]

I have a question about the ISBN. I have noticed on Amazon that there are two ISBN's for books. One starts with 10 and the other starts with 13. Can anyone tell what the difference is?

Thanks,
Louise

We now have 13 digit ISBNs instead of 10. While we phase over to 13, books will have both 10 and 13 digits so that libraries have time to prepare their computer systems to need to be able to except the extra digits.

So both numbers are the ISBN and they are both unique to the book.

HTH!!

 

[harleyquinn]

This is from the ISO (the people that pay attention to these things:

Why was the ISBN changed?
The main reason for changing the ISBN was to increase the numbering capacity of the ISBN system. As a result of electronic publishing and other changes in the publishing industry, the numbering capacity of the ISBN system is being consumed at a much faster rate than was originally anticipated when the ISBN system was designed for printed books in the late 1960's.
In effect, the ISBN system would have run out of numbers in its current format. That wasn't going to happen tomorrow but it was a real concern for the future. We acted on a solution now, while the industry still had enough time to plan and budget for change, so that the ISBN system will remain viable far into the future.

The solution, simply put, is that the length of the ISBN number changes from 10 digits to 13 digits, effective 1 January 2007.

 

[LadyyRedd]

What they said...

I work for a publisher and let me tell you, the ISBN13 project has just been so wonderful to work on!

Kimya

 

[Louise-Montreal]

Thanks, guys! I knew I could count on the DIS boards. It really is an amazing place- I am always impressed at the vastness of knowledge around here.