FAQs for the transition to a 13-digit ISBN
What is the difference between the 10-digit and 13-digit ISBN?
When does the change process start?
What will happen to the bar code on the book?
What about books that are not reprinted or existing print on demand titles?
Will I be able to order using ISBN-10 after January 1, 2007?
What should I do to find out if my store system is ISBN-13 compliant?
What if I have further questions?
How does this change to a 13-digit ISBN work exactly?
What
is happening?
The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) will be expanded
from a 10-digit to a 13-digit number effective January 1, 2007, which
will bring it in line with the 13-digit EAN identifier used throughout
the world to identify other products in other retail and wholesale channels.
Why is this happening?
• There is a shortage of ISBNs in some countries
• There is a desire to standardize the product identifier
Where is this happening?
This is supposed to take place in all countries in the world
and at all levels of the supply chain—in publishers of all types,
wholesalers, in libraries and in all retail channels.
What is the difference between the 10-digit and 13-digit ISBN?
The 13-digit ISBN will have a 978 prefix. The 13th digit is a recalculated
check digit, not necessarily the same as the final ISBN-10 digit.
When does the change process start?
• Presently Duke University Press can accept manual orders and queries
using ISBN-13.
• From January 1, 2007 Duke University Press expects to be able
to send/receive EDI (electronic) orders with both ISBN-10 and ISBN-13.
• During 2006 paper documentation (invoices, credits, advice notes,
and packing lists) will display the ISBN-10. After January 1, 2007 ISBN-13
only will be displayed.
• Our current catalog, marketing materials, order forms, the web
site and ads display the ISBN-10. Beginning on January 1, 2007 only ISBN-13
will be displayed.
What will happen to the bar code on the book?
Through 2006 the bar code will remain unchanged. It will display
the eye-readable ISBN-10, eye-readable EAN-13, and the bar code referencing
the EAN-13 number (which is the same as the ISBN-13).
Beginning January 1, 2007 new publications and most reprints will display
the ISBN-13 above the barcode and the EAN-13 number below the bar code.
What about books that are not reprinted or existing print on demand titles?
Duke University will not immediately change the bar code on these
titles; but that should not have any operational impact. Books with the
existing ISBN-10 and EAN-13 bar code will be "processable" by
scanners.
Will I be able to order using ISBN-10 after January 1, 2007?
Duke University Press will be able to accept orders for titles
that have ISBN-10 after January 1, 2007. Titles published after January
1, 2007 will only have an ISBN-13.
What should I do to find out if my store system is ISBN-13 compliant?
Retailers should discuss the ISBN-13 change requirements with
their store systems vendors and/or in-house I.T. personnel to ensure that
they are ready for the changes that are coming.
What is the GTIN-14?
The GTIN (Global Trade Identification Number) is a 14-digit identifier.
If the first digit is 0, it signifies a single copy; the check digit does
not change. If the first digit is other than 0, it signifies a different
delivery profile, i.e. carton or pallet, and the check digit changes.
Duke will eventually provide for the GTIN in our system but does not expect
to utilize it much in trading.
What if I have further questions?
The following organizations have information about the transition to ISBN-13:
Book Industry Study Group
American Booksellers
Association
How does this change to a 13-digit ISBN work exactly?
Today, when a barcode is applied to a book, the 10-digit ISBN has to become
compatible with the 13-digit EAN international product numbering system.
This is done by encoding the ISBN into the “Bookland EAN”
number. The EAN number is the 13 digit, unhyphenated number found on the
bar code text block in addition to the ISBN. The bars actually refer to
the EAN number. The check digit of the ISBN-10 is dropped (the last digit),
the remaining 9 digits are prefixed with '978', and a new check digit
is calculated. This becomes the EAN number.
The same process will be followed to convert today's 10-digit ISBNs (ISBN-10s)
to 13-digit ISBNs (ISBN-13s) in 2007. In effect, the ISBN-13 is already
on books today, in the form of the EAN. The difference is that the EAN
is used to convey today's ISBN. In 2007, that same 13-digit number will
become the ISBN, but will be hyphenated. Note: adding the 978 prefix does
not create the 13-digit ISBN simply. The check digit (the final digit)
must be recalculated.