How to Use the ISBN
Is the ISBN mandatory, and what does it cost?
The ISBN is not mandatory, but it is an internationally accepted code used by most publishers because it identifies the book and its publisher unmistakably, and the number is unchangeable throughout the lifetime of the publication.
The ISBN is free of charge.
Which publications are given ISBNs and which are not numbered?
Items to be numbered are, for example:
- Books and pamphlets
- Offprints
- Looseleaf, maps and atlases
- Educational sets that contain both printed and audiovisual material
- Multimedia
- Audiobooks on cassette or CD or DVD (talking books)
- Collections of diapositives and transparencies
- Braille publications
- Electronic publications (e.g., CD-ROMs, online publications, computer programs)
Items not to be numbered are, for example:
- Diaries
- Almanacs
- Calendars
- Advertising publications
- Price lists
- Brochures
- Publications without any text
- Postcards
- Notebooks
- Games and toys
