There are so many books, we ran out of ISBNs! To keep track of all the new books being published, we need to add three digits to the familiar 10-digit ISBN.
The International Standards Organization (ISO) set January 1, 2007, as the transition date for the new 13-digit ISBN.
Follett Library Resources is working hard to ensure that all of our systems are fully compliant in time for this transition date.
Who does this affect?
Everyone. Anyone using ISBNs including libraries, schools, software vendors, wholesalers, retailers, and publishers will be affected.
What is the major impact of this change?
The largest impact is that all of the computer systems that use the ISBN as a direct reference to book titles, including your library automation system, need to be upgraded to handle the new number.
What is different about the new ISBN?
The ISBN-13 is equivalent to the Bookland EAN that has appeared in the bar code on the back of most books for 20 years. Today, a 10-digit ISBN can be used to calculate a 13-digit ISBN.
| Starting with the ISBN-10: |
|
1-873671-00-8 |
| Eliminate the check digit: |
|
1-873671-00- |
| Add the prefix 978: |
|
978-1-873671-00- |
| Calculate a new check digit to get the ISBN-13: |
|
978-1-87367-00-9 |
Both ISBNs, 1-873671-00-8 and 978-1-873671-00-9, represent the same title.
If the calculation is so simple, why does my system need to change?
At some point after January 1, 2007, the international ISBN agency will begin to issue 13-digit ISBNs that begin with 979. Then, a calculation will no longer be possible because the first 9 digits of a 10-digit ISBN (the 10th is the check digit) will not be uinique.
Can an ISBN-13 that begins with 979 be converted back to the ISBN-10?
No, since the identification number may not be unique, there will be no corresponding ISBN-10. That is why all the computer systems must be ready for ISBN-13 on January 1, 2007.
Where will the 13-digit ISBN be in the MARC record?
The new ISBN will still be carried in the 020 field. Titles that have been assigned both formats of ISBN by the publisher will have paired 020 fields. When these pairs occur in a given bibliographic record, the 13-digit ISBN will appear first.
Example:
020 _a978-1-873671-00-9
020 _a1-873671-00-8
Is Follett Software’s Destiny Resource Management Solution™ ready to accept the ISBN-13?
Yes, every version since the release of Destiny Resource Management Solution™ version 5.5 is compatible with the 13-digit ISBN.
Is Circulation/Catalog Plus® ready to accept the 13-digit ISBN?
Yes, Circulation/Catalog Plus® version 6.2 supports the 13-digit ISBN.
Is Sagebrush™ software ready to accept the ISBN-13?
With the release of Spectrum 5.3, all of the Sagebrush™ library automation products, including Sagebrush Athena and Sagebrush Accent, are compatible with 13-digit ISBNs.
How do I know if my library automation system accepts the 13-digit ISBN?
If your system is not listed above, you will need to check with your system’s vendor to see if your software version will accept the 13-digit ISBN. Many vendors have information regarding ISBN-13 readiness posted on their websites.
How will this affect the 10-digit ISBNs that I already have in my automation system?
This depends on your library automation system. Many vendors have information regarding ISBN-13 readiness posted on their websites.
Will eBooks or audiovisual materials be affected by this change?
Yes, any item that carries an ISBN is affected, including ebooks and some audiovisual materials.
Where can I learn more about the new ISBN?
There is a great deal of information about ISBN-13 accessible on the Internet. One prominent site that you may want to reference is the Book Industry Study Group at: http://bisg.org/isbn-13/
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