To develop, maintain, and make publicly available documentation for users of the ISBN

system 

  To implement and maintain funding arrangements as necessary to support the

operations of the International ISBN Agency, including, but not limited to, financial

contributions from ISBN registration agencies.

9.3 ISBN registration agencies

The administration of the ISBN system within a registration group is the responsibility of

the ISBN registration agency. The ISBN registration agency may operate on a national,

regional, linguistic, or other reasonable division of responsibility according to the basis of

the group allocation. 

Within a group there may be several national agencies (e.g., group identifier 978 0 and

978 1 have separate agencies in Australia, English speaking Canada, the United

Kingdom, the United States and so on). 

The functions and responsibilities of an ISBN registration agency are:

  To ensure that continuous service is provided

  To issue notification of the assignment of an ISBN or an ISBN registrant element to the

registrant of that monographic publication or publisher name

  To create, manage, and maintain registers of ISBN, ISBN metadata, and administrative

data in accordance with the policies set out by the International ISBN Agency. (Tasks

involving ISBN metadata may be delegated to a designated bibliographic agency

provided that compliance is made with these specifications)

  To correct inaccurate ISBNs and ISBN metadata if proof of such inaccuracy is provided

  To make ISBN and associated metadata available to other registration agencies and to

users of the ISBN system in compliance with policies set out by the International ISBN

Agency

  To collate and maintain statistical data on its ISBN related operations and report these

at the stipulated intervals to the International ISBN Agency

  To promote, educate, and train others in the use of the ISBN system in compliance

with the specifications of the applicable edition of the ISBN standard in force at the

time

  To adhere to the ISBN policies and procedures established by the International ISBN

Agency in compliance with the specifications of the applicable edition of the ISBN

standard in force at the time

9.4 Publisher administration

Publishers are responsible for assigning publication elements to the individual items they

publish and for ensuring the application of pertinent regulations. 

They may apply for and receive a registrant element from an ISBN registration agency

together with a printout or electronic file of the individual ISBNs that are available to them

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