- ISBN or International Standard Book Number - an unique identifier number.
- Displayed in barcode format on publications ex. books on their back
jacket (lower right).
- Allotted by International ISBN Agency based in UK through the
National ISBN Agency.
- It is in the form of 13 digits, consisting of 5 elements separated
by spaces and hyphens ex. ISBN No. 978-81-8038-835-4 indicates following
information:
·
Ist
element- Denotes a specified prefix element (978).
·
IInd
element- Identifies the particular country or geographical area (81).
·
IIIrd
element- Identifies the particular publisher (8038).
·
IVth
element- Identifies the particular edition, format of a specific title (835).
·
Vth
element- Check digit (4).
What
ISBN does not indicate
5.
It
does not give any legal protection.
6.
No
copyright protection.
7.
No
statement on content form and documentation and distribution of the book.
What
ISBN indicates
8.
It
is a product number required to assist in internal processing and ordering
while book selling.
9.
It
provides access to bibliographic data bases used by the book industry and
libraries to provide information.
10.
ISBN
can be applied by publisher of the book, author of the book if he decides to
publish the book himself.
Scope and Assignment of ISBN
- ISBN is assigned for the following products:
ü Monographic works (books) that are textual and/or
have an instructional content
ü Publications not intended by the publisher to be
updated regularly
ü Individual articles
ü Educational instructions, films, videos including
audio books not purely for entertainment
ü Electronic publications, Mixed media text based
publications
ü Print on demand publications
ü Set of volumes or packs of books
Products which do not qualify for ISBN
ü Serials/periodicals/journals (these are suitable
for ISSN)
ü Journals, record books
ü Videos, DVDs or other media for entertainment
ü Documentaries on video/CD-ROM, DVD or other media
ü Computer games
ü Computer application packages
ü Music scores
ü Items available to a restricted group, e.g. a
course book only available to students on the course
ü Websites
ü Non text-based publications
Benefits
of ISBN
12.
Unique
international identifier for monographic publications.
13.
Assigning
ISBN replaces handling of long bibliographic descriptive records-saving time, reducing
staff costs & coping errors.
14.
Correct
use different product forms to be clearly differentiated, enabling comparisons
between different subject areas, publishing houses.
15.
Facilitates
compilation and updating of book trade directories and bibliographic databases.
16.
Fast
and efficient method of ordering and distribution of books, managing sale
system in shops, supply chain systems, managing sales data, stock control.
17.
Ensures
that the book is widely known.
About
Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Agency for ISBN, MHRD
18.
Raja
Ram Mohan Roy National Agency for ISBN is responsible for ISBN registration in
the country and is affiliated to UK based International Agency.
19.
It
is under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Deptt.
of Higher Education, Book Promotion and Copyright
Division.
20.
At
present, there are separate forms for authors and publishers and educational
institutions which have to be filled and sent with the required documents and
the ISBN Nos. are allotted free of cost.
Need
for automation of ISBN registration and allotment process
21.
Over a period of
time with the growth of the publishing industry and awareness about ISBN, the
request for ISBN has increased exponentially.
22.
Efforts have
been made from time to time to streamline the operations of the agency which
caters to the requirement of the applicants of the entire country.
23.
In this
direction an attempt is being made by designing the ISBN online portal http://isbn.gov.in to further streamline the operations.
24.
The
automation of allotment of ISBN system has been designed through NICSI
empanelled vendor Akiko Sherman.
25.
The
portal has been developed in consultation with the stakeholders, authors and
publishers in meetings held on 26.8.2015 and 16.11.2015.
Salient
features of the ISBN online portal
26.
Complete
automation of the process of seeking application, their application by RRRNA
examination and allotment of ISBNs.
27.
The developed
software has several modules – users registration,
online application submission, examination, allotment of ISBN No. and ISBN
generation which includes ISBN generation request from the National Agency to
the International Agency at UK.
28.
The automation
process also seeks to maintain inventory as well as process the data that will
be provided by the users.
29.
There will be
doing away with receipt of hard copy of any document unless considered
appropriate for establishing the identity of the applicant.
30.
It would also be
ensured that the ISBN has been genuinely used and assigned to the books applied
for by the user, which will be ensured by seeking details of the previously
assigned ISBNs against a title and through oath and affirmation and declaration
on their part.
Benefits
of ISBN Online portal
31. Online portal will streamline registration process, make it fast, efficient and transparent.
32. Streamline operation of data accumulation, ease in
examination, followed by fast delivery of services.
33. Quick and easy search of bibliographic data.
34. The books published and allotted ISBN Numbers by
RRRNA will get globally identified in worldwide catalog of published books.
35. The initiative will place India on the global map
with other countries providing digital services.
36. Key Milestone towards ensuring a “digitally”
transformed India.
37. Will ensures smooth processing in the publishing
industry and help authors, editors, printers, booksellers and distributors etc.
38. Ease of access of ISBN services across the country
through digital approach.