| Introduction
of International Standard Book Numbering System (ISBN) in Bhutan
Pal Drug Zhibjug Tewa, the Centre for Bhutan
Studies is designated by the Royal Government of Bhutan as
the ISBN Agency for Bhutan. ISBN Agency is responsible for
promoting International Standard Book Numbering. Allocating
of ISBNs to Bhutan's Publishers is a free service undertaken
by Pal Drug Zhibjug Tewa to promote bibliographic standardization
of Bhutan's Publishing output.
Allocation of Publisher Prefixes to each Publisher - Commercial,
Governmental and Non-Governmental, and Private, validation
of ISBNs, Maintenance of Master Files and Registers, and Provision
of individual ISBNs upon request are the main functions of
the ISBN Agency.
International Standard Book Number Background
There are instances when large Publishing houses have introduced
a book numbering system for their convenience of keeping a
record of their own publishing.
A standard book numbering system with computer facility
introduced into the book trade was expected to simplify procedures
as well as promote accurate bibliographic citation, Specific
information in book trade and library activities.
In the late 1960s, computers were beginning to be used in
the book trade for order processing and inventory control.
At this stage, a common agreement was sought to ensure that
all sectors of the industry (Publishers, Booksellers, Distributors
and Librarians) could benefit from a standardized numbering
system. The system which fulfilled this requirement was developed
out of the book numbering system introduced in the United
Kingdom in 1967.
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is based on
International Standard ISO 2108, 1972. Its purpose is to cordinate
and standardize internationally the use of book number identifies
one title, or edition of a title, from one specific publisher,
and is unique to that title or edition.
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How ISBNs are allocated For the purpose
of the ISBN system, a Publisher is defined as any person,
company, partnership, association, group or body, of any kind
whatsoever issuing and publishing a book. Note that publishing
a book is not printing a book, and the ISBN is issued only
to the publisher rather than the printer, except in those
rare cases where the printer is also the publisher, i.e. financing
the production of the item.
ISBNs should be given to:
* Printed books and Pamphlets
* Micro-form Publications
* Braille Publications
* Books on cassettes
* Microcomputer Software machine-readable tapes designed to
produce readable Print-Out
* Other similar media including educational films and transparencies
ISBNs are not given to:
* Ephemeral printed materials such as diaries, calendars,
advertising matter,
* theatre and concert programmes, prospectuses etc.
* Art prints and art folders without title page and text
* Sound recordings
* Serial Publications (except: year-books, annuals, monographic
series)
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Structure of an ISBN Every International
Standard Book Number (ISBN) consists of ten digits and whenever
it is printed the letters ISBN precedes it.
The Ten-Digit number is divided into four parts of variable
length, each part when printed being separated by a hyphen
or space.
The four parts are as follows:
Part 1. Group Identifier - Group identifiers are allocated
by the international ISBN Agency in Germany. Groups are determined
by national, geographic, language or other convenient group
and varies in size according to the publishing output of the
group.
Examples of group identifiers are:
0 United Kingdom, Canada, U.S.A., Australia, Zimbabwe etc.
3 Germany
81 India
951 Finland
955 Sri Lanka
971 Philippines
974 Thailand
9971 Singapore
99936 Bhutan
Part 2. Publisher Identifier - The publisher identifier designates
the publisher of a given book. Publishers with a large output
of books are assigned a longer publisher identifier.
Part 3. Title Identifier - This part identifies a particular
title or edition of a title published by a particular publisher.
Title identifier depend upon the length of the Publisher identifier.
Part 4. Check Digit - The "Check Digit" is the
tenth and last digit in an ISBN and is computed as the result
of an elaborate calculation on the other nine digits. This
is a single digit at the end of the ISBN which provides an
automatic check on the correctness of the ISBN
The full advantages of participation in the ISBN scheme are
achieved only when the ISBN is actually printed in the publication.
This means that ISBNs must be allocated before a book goes
to the Printer.
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Procedure for application for ISBN
Publishers should apply to the National Agency for a Publisher
Prefix and request for ISBNs for individual titles. Publishers
must request an ISBN for a forthcoming publication early enough
for the number assigned to be printed in the book.
The group agency will assume the responsibility for assigning
publisher identifiers. A block of ISBNs will also be allocated
for each publisher by the ISBN Agency. The assignment of a
specific number to a specific publication will be carried
out by the Agency in consultation with the publishers.
Where to print ISBNs
The ISBN should always appear on the reverse side of the
title page. It should also appear at the foot of the outside
back cover and at the foot of the back of the jacket if the
book has one. If neither of these alternatives is possible
then the ISBN should appear in some other prominent position
on the outside. ISBN should be printed in ten-point or larger
font.
When to give ISBNs
Individual ISBNs should be given for:
1. Each title published for the first time i.e. each first
impression.
2. Each new edition of a title published. This includes a
change in type of binding, a change in text or format, or
resetting of type, but not a reprint with no textual difference
from the original.
3. ISBNs should be assigned to the different bindings of the
same title published by the same publisher. i.e. The trade
hardback, trade paperback, and leather bindings issued by
a publisher either simultaneously or at different points in
time.
4. ISBNs should be assigned to the related versions of the
same work.
5. Each volume of a multi-volume set requires a number as
well as an ISBN for the set as a whole, e.g.
ISBN 0-670-01039-1 (Volume I)
ISBN 0-670-01045-6 (6 Volume set)
6. ISBNs should be assigned to works related to a text book.
i.e. the teachers' manual work book and test manual.
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Queries regarding ISBN or requests for ISBN
may be addressed to:
National ISBN Agency for Bhutan
Pal Drug Zhibjug Tewa
(The Centre for Bhutan Studies)
Post Box # 1111
Thimphu
Or call Mr. Tashi Tshering at 321007.
We wish to acknowledge that the format of the user manual
published by the ISBN Agency, Berlin and the Pamphlet on ISBNs
- International Standard Book Numbering produced by the National
Library of Sri Lanka were adapted in drafting this Pamphlet.
Click
here to see the details of the ISBN issued to CAPSD, Department
of Education - Publisher Prefix Range: 0
Click
here to see the details of the ISBN issued within the Publisher
Prefix Range 10-59
Click
here to see the details of the ISBN issued within the Publisher
Prefix Range 600-999
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