Effective January 1, 2007 the length of the International Standard Book Number
(ISBN) will officially change from 10 to 13 digits. Over the next few years,
the publishing industry will begin using 13-digit ISBNs, while phasing out
the use of 10-digit ISBN’s.
What does this mean for school districts?
This change will require school
districts (and all other segments of the book industry) to begin using 13-digit
product identifiers when transacting business with their suppliers for books
and instructional materials. Each school district’s textbook requisitioning/purchasing
system will need to accommodate 13-digit identification numbers. Some school
districts may need to implement a systems change.
During the transition, some publishers will be using dual 10 and 13-digit
ISBNs to identify their instructional materials. This will allow school districts
to use either number as they make the transition to ISBN-13.
AAP recently sent a letter to school districts across the country to alert
them to the fact that the International Standards Book Number (ISBN) will change
from 10 digits to 13 digits on January 1, 2007. In a massive mailing that went
to more than 7,000 school districts, the School Division outlined the reasons
behind the changeover, its implications, and publishers' efforts to facilitate
the transition.
Where can I get more information about the transition
to ISBN-13?
Quick Facts: http://www.bisg.org/isbn-13/quick.facts.html
FAQs: http://www.bisg.org/isbn-13/faq.html
School Districts: http://www.bisg.org/isbn-13/school.districts.html
IT Professionals: http://www.bisg.org/isbn-13/IT.html
Book Ordering: http://www.bisg.org/isbn-13/book.ordering.html
Book Labeling: http://www.bisg.org/isbn-13/book.labeling.html
More ISBN-13 School Information:
PDF file
Do you have questions not answered by the information on this page?
Please contact Ed McCoyd emccoyd@publishers.org
