In our country the book trade works mostly without computers. Do I still need ISBNs?

You do not have to have computers to make use of an ISBN. The ISBN saves you and

other people the bother of copying bibliographic records. In addition, if you want to export

your books, without an ISBN they cannot be included in bibliographic data products.

I sell books but also stationery, toys, and many other items. As the ISBN only identifies

books, what can I do about the rest? 

This material can be numbered by other numbering systems, such as EANs. Modern

scanning equipment reads and processes different kinds of bar coded numbers.

The EAN organisation asked me to become a member. Is this mandatory? 

If you only want to use the ISBN in EAN 13 bar coded form, you do not have to become a

member. But as the EAN and UCC provide other numbering standards for identifying

cartons, shipping units, locations, etc., and provide other trade related services, such as

electronic address numbers (location codes), EDI (electronic data interchange) formats,

etc., you may want to become a member. Check with your EAN organisation for

information on their services.

What happens if I have used all the numbers under my identifier? 

An additional identifier can be assigned, allowing for a larger output if necessary. This is

an additional identifier, not a replacement.

Do different formats of an electronic publication (e.g., PDF, HTML) need separate ISBNs?

Different formats of an electronic publication are regarded as different product forms and

therefore need to be identified by different ISBNs if each format is made available

separately. 

Do print on demand publications get an ISBN?

Yes. If the print on demand publication is taking the place of the original version and is in

the same format, then it may use the original ISBN. If there have been changes in content

or format sufficient to constitute a new edition, then a separate ISBN is required. 

Do customised print on demand publications get an ISBN?

No. Publications that are available only on a limited basis, such as customised

print on demand publications with content tailored to a user's request

,

 shall not be

assigned an ISBN.

Does the International ISBN Agency determine the fee of ISBNs? Is the fee for ISBNs the

same everywhere?

The International ISBN Agency does not influence or determine the fee to provide ISBNs,

since it is not directly responsible for their allocation beyond a group/national agency level.

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