Online Publications and Other Standard Numbers

ISBN and online publications

The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) system has been used to identify different formats of a publication from the very start. Bound and paperback versions should have different ISBNs, as also should leather-bound editions etc. The same principle applies to other monographic publications than books.

The Finnish ISBN Agency recommends that an ISBN is still used for a publication that is published simultaneously as a paper version and an online publication. The use of an ISBN is also recommended for online publications that are similar to books and have contents that are intended to be permanent. If the online publication is only for temporary use or is regularly updated, we recommend the use of the URN (Uniform Resource Name), which is based on the National Bibliography Numbers (NBN).

URN

If a publication is available both as paper edition and online in several computer formats (PDF, HTML, RTF etc.), each version should be given an individual ISBN. This also applies to electronic publications that are similar to books and published on readers (such as RocketBook, GlassBook etc.) The ISBN is given to each computer format of the electronic book but not to the different readers. All the ISBNs should be listed one below the other on all versions, and the abbreviated format should be mentioned within brackets at the end of its ISBN. The online publication's ISBN should be mentioned on the title display or the first display. It is recommended that the meta tag containing the ISBN is placed within the head section of HTML.

Examples:

ISBN 978-951-45-9694-0 (paperback)
ISBN 978-951-45-9695-7 (PDF)
ISBN 978-951-45-9696-4 (HTML)
ISBN 978-951-45-9999-6 (OEB)

Other standard numbers

Serials and periodicals are assigned ISSN numbers, printed music publications are assigned ISMN numbers, and music recordings receive an ISRC.

ISRC