Before we begin, let’s have a look at what an ISBN is and where they originated. Basically an ISBN is a 13-digit number which acts as a unique identifier for a publication, and are used in about 150 countries worldwide. They originate from 1965, when W.H. Smith – Britain’s largest book retailer – made plans to computerise their warehouse. The British Publisher’s Association and other experts got together and created the SBN (Standard Book Numbering) system which was implemented in 1967. This attracted the attention of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) who investigated the possibility of implementing the system globally. After meetings in London in 1968 and Stockholm in 1969, with representatives from across Europe and the United States in attendance as well as written comments from many other countries, the ISBN was approved as standard in 1970.Originally ISBN’s were 10 digits long, revised to 13 digits in 2007. They contain five groups of digits which provide information identifying the date, region, publisher, title and edition, and finally a check-digit which validates the ISBN. This is why they contain dashes.
- Step One – Do I really need an ISBN?
Unless you are printing less than 50 copies of your book for loved ones, then yes. Book dealers will generally not stock titles without an ISBN barcode. Keep in mind that if you are also intending to publish your work as an e-book, or in both hard- and soft-cover, that you will need a unique ISBN for each different version.
- Step Two – Request your ISBN Number (or your country’s equivalent)
We at SA Barcodes can design your barcode for R275.00.
Contact the National Library of South Africa for an ISBN number.
- Step Three – Time to design your ISBN barcode
If you already have an ISBN number, we can do the design of the barcode image for you for only R120.00. Contact us for more info.
- Step Four – Provide your publisher or printers with your ISBN barcode
If you are self-publishing your book then you will need to send the ISBN to your printers who will add it to your publication.
- Step Five – Post-publishing
This unfortunately is the inevitable admin bit. Under the Legal Deposit Act of 1997 you will be required to provide one free copy of your book along with an information sheet to the six areas of legal deposit, but the ISN will provide you with full details with your ISBN code. You need to do this within 14 days of publication.
And that’s it! If you have self-published a book or have any questions at all feel free to let us know in the comments.
Thank you for the useful information.
Where is this? How do we get an address?
“you will be required to provide one free copy of your book along with an information sheet to the six areas of legal deposit,”
Hi Siki – I’ll send you some detailed info via email. Thanks for the comment! Cat – SA Barcodes
how do i get the bank details when iam ready to send the amount for the barcode?
Hi Milton; thanks for the comment. I have emailed you the relevant info. Thanks! Cat – SA Barcodes
Hi I’m about to purchase a barcode on Amazon’s Create Space and purchase a barcode from their – just wanted to know if ever the book would be published in SA, do I need to purchase a new SA barcode from you at R275? or can I use the Amazon one, when going into print? Do we keep the barcode number, but just adjust it for SA? and could you also email me those 6 addresses that the free book copies must be posted to? as well as the bank details the R275 must be deposited to?
thanks
Annemart
Hi Annemart – thanks for the very interesting question! The barcode which will be issued to your e-book via Amazon will be for exactly that – the electronic copy of the publication. If you want to print physical copies you will need to apply for a new ISBN through the National Library of the country where you are publishing and submit the free copies. Hope this makes sense.
Can there be only electronic format or does there need to be a certain minimum physical publication too?
Hi Manisha – sorry if I have misunderstood but I assume you are referring to the copies you need to submit to the National Library? If you are only publishing in electronic format then you can submit copies to the library by sending through a CD version to the various places of legal deposit. I hope this assists! Feel free to contact me on 021 686 0871 or info@sabarcodes.co.za. Thanks for the comment! Cat – SA Barcodes
I m printing a book n I want an isbn for it.I will be in pretoria in national library by nx weeks.how much for isbn n wht did I need to bring with me if m coming to applying for it .
I will be needing an ISBN and barcode but due unfortunately to a series of Home Affairs errors I do not have a permit in my British passport at present. I am British but live in South Africa. Will there be any problem with getting an ISBN?
Margaret
Hi Margaret – thanks for the comment and interesting question. Basically if you will be printing the publication here in South Africa your nationality won’t make a difference; we don’t require a permit. I will send you full details and requirements via email shortly.
Cat – SA Barcodes
i am a self publishing writer and would like to have three ISBN numbers for the three books i have written. how do i go about this?
hie
i am Non South African but i have written a book which i want to publish and print myself. i live in this country as an asylum seeker. i hope this book will help all Africans around the world. how can I get the ISBN for my book since I cant go back to my country soon.
Hi there and thank you for the comment. I am sure we will be able to assist you. If you are publishing within South Africa then your country of origin shouldn’t be relevant to the application process. I will send you through some detailed info via email shortly, and thank you also for your honesty and bravery. We are very happy to have your finished work featured on our website for a bit of additional exposure if you wish. 😉
Thanks again and will be in touch – Cat – SA Barcodes