FAQ

• What is an ISBN?

  The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit number that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally. Its purpose is to establish and identify one title or one unique edition of a title from one specific publisher. An ISBN allows for more efficient marketing and cataloging of products by booksellers, libraries, educational institutions, wholesalers, and distributors. In addition, ISBNs create unambiguous bibliographical records for search, discovery, and cataloging and facilitate sales reporting at the individual product level between business partners for analysis, bestseller listings, and royalty accounting. For more information, visit the Bowker website.

  
   
• What educational materials need an ISBN?

  While the initial use was for print books, ISBNs are now a common identifier on DVDs, e-books, and software. For educational publishers qualifying products are any educational materials they produce, including print books, manipulatives, software, DVDs, curriculum kits, e-books, games, etc.

  
   
   
• Why should all of my products have an ISBN?

  The trade publishing industry has used ISBNs for decades to standardize the data that libraries, distributors, bookstores, and resellers use for research, purchases, and inventory control. In return, companies operating in this sector are better able to track their internal sales data and competitive data against the market.
   
  If all educational materials have a unique ISBN, schools and school districts will be able to research arnd puchase school products more efficiently. Supplemental publishers will have a standardized data format to track their sales, and if desired, compare to competitors. Moreover, by assigning an ISBN to all educational products and registering them with the BowkerLink database, the materials will reside in a global directory where libraries, stores, schools, and distributors around the world will be able to find them.
   
  For more information on why all educational materials should have an ISBN, read the AEP/Bowker position paper, "How Standardization in the K-12 Educational Publishing Industry Can Help Grow Business."

   
   
• Should I have an ISBN for PDF, audio, or other versions of a print piece?

  Yes. You need a unique ISBN for each format and edition of a title because then you can track sales data for each version. In addition, the ISBN will indicate to stores, schools, resellers, and online vendor which version of your product was ordered and which is most popular-invaluable information for both you and your customers.

  
   
• How do publishers normally buy ISBNs?

  Purchasing an ISBN is easy. Publishers go to the Bowker site (www.bowker.com) where there is a link to buy ISBNs from a secure website. ISBNs may be purchased in blocks of 10, 100, or 1000. (Costs vary according to the number bought and the requested turnaround time on the order.) ISBNs do not need to be assigned to a product at the time of purchase; they can be assigned to old, current, and new products as needed.
   

• What is the ISBN Granting Program?

  Until December 31, 2008, U.S. AEP members can get free ISBNs for their current and backlist catalogs.
   
  NOTE: The ISBN Agency cannot assign ISBNs to publishers located in other countries. Bowker is only allowed to assign ISBNs to publishers with headquarters in the U.S.
   

• What is the deadline for the ISBN Granting Program?

  All requests must be made by December 31, 2008.

  
   
• How do I sign up?

  Simply download and fill out the ISBN Granting Program Questionnaire. In order to process your request as efficiently as possible, please answer all questions on this form.
   
  Please note: Only AEP members in good standing are eligible for the grant program. To check your membership status, please contact Colleen Quigley at 856-241-7772.
  

  
   
• What materials are eligible for the ISBN Granting Program?

  Any product in a publisher's current catalog or on its backlist can get an ISBN. For educational publishers qualifying products are any educational materials they produce, including print books, manipulatives, software, DVDs, curriculum kits, e-books, games, etc.

• How does the ISBN Granting Program work?
  1. You download and fill out the Granting Program Questionnaire.
  2. AEP gives your information to Bowker, which assigns a publisher relations representative.
  3. Bowker contacts you within a week to begin the data submission process.
  4. After Bowker receives your electronic file containing the titles with supporting information, Bowker will confirm the total amount of ISBNs that you are requesting.
  5. Then, Bowker will check with it s database and see if your company has been assigned ISBN Prefixes or ISBN numbers before.
  6. If this analysis determines that your company has NOT yet purchased ISBN prefixes and/or assigned ISBNs to its titles, a new ISBN Prefix will be assigned to your company. The size of the ISBN Prefix (available in sizes of 10, 100, or 1,000) will be determined based on the number of titles requested. (This includes each version of a title. For example, an electronic version of a book would receive a different ISBN than the print edition.)
  7. If the analysis determines that your company has already purchased ISBN Prefixes but not assigned all of the ISBNs, Bowker will initially assign those ISBNs from the existing Prefix. The remaining titles would then be given new ISBN prefixes that are assigned to the your company as part of the Granting Program. Bowker will issue your company credit for any previously purchased ISBNs assigned during the Granting Program. This credit will be issued at the end of the Granting Program.
  8. You receive your account information from Bowker for MyIdentifiers.com, which is where you can access your title and ISBN information.
   
   
   
• How much money will I save?

  Your savings depends on how many titles you submit and whether you buy your ISBNs in blocks of 10, 100, or 1,000. For example, a block of 1,000 costs $1,570.00. One AEP member has submitted 10,000 titles already-a savings of over $15,000!

  
   
• In what type of data file should I submit my titles to Bowker?

  Your publisher relations representative will work with you to determine the best format. Possible formats include ONIX, Excel, XML, or even an electronic version of your catalog.

  
   
• My Bowker representative asked me for product information and said I need to use the standard codes. Where can I find these?

  Click here to download the codes for the Bowker information fields.

  
   
• When I looked at the data submission form from Bowker, ISBN was a required field, but I don't have the ISBNs yet. What should I do?

  Fill in your EAN or UPC code for each title instead.

  
   
• What if I already have a block of ISBNs?

  If you have an existing ISBN block with unassigned numbers, Bowker will notify you, and ISBNs from the existing block will be assigned first. Bowker will then give you credit, equal to the number of existing ISBNs used, on your next purchase. This credit will be issued at the end of the Granting Program.

  
   
• Why does Bowker use the ISBNs from my existing block first?

  Assigning your existing, unused ISBNs allows you and Bowker to maintain order in your ISBN numbering and makes it easier for cataloging purposes.

  
   
• How long will it take to get the ISBNs?

  Processing time will vary for each publisher depending upon the number of titles, whether or not the publisher has worked with Bowker before, the data format, etc.

  
   
• When my Bowker representative examined my data, she requested information for titles that already have ISBNs. Why?

  Merely assigning an ISBN to a product does not get it into Books In Print and other Bowker databases. Bowker also requires information about your titles, including publication date, author, subject, etc. By providing Bowker with these details, you are giving your titles greater online exposure and making it easier for customers to find and buy your products.

  
   
• How do I become an AEP member?

  Please visit the AEP membership web pages for information on joining AEP. If you are ready to join now, click here. (If you do not have an AEP web user account, you will need to create one to use the online application.)
   
  If you have questions about AEP membership, please contact Jo-Ann McDevitt at 856-241-7772.

  
   
• What is Bowker?

  Bowker® is the exclusive US ISBN Agency. The use of ISBNs is governed by the International ISBN Agency, but only R.R. Bowker may distribute them to United States publishers. Bowker also offers many tools for publishers and their customers to take advantage of the ISBN information. Bowker is the world's leading source for bibliographic information. The company provides searching, analytical, promotional, and ordering services to publishers, booksellers, libraries, and patrons through national and international brands, including: Books In Print(r), Global Books In Print(r), Syndetic Solutions(tm), Pubnet(r), PubEasy(r), PubTrack(tm), AquaBrowser(r), and more. In the U.S., Australia and Puerto Rico, Bowker is also the exclusive ISBN and SAN Agency and a DOI registration agency for the publishing industry. Bowker is headquartered in New Providence, New Jersey, with operations in East Grinstead, England, and Port Melbourne, Australia. For more company details, please visit www.Bowker.com.

  
   
• What is AEP?

  The Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) is the professional association for publishers of supplemental educational materials. Its membership represents the breadth of educational content developers and service providers delivering progressive products in both print and electronic formats to today's schools and colleges. Founded in 1895, AEP now assists its members in navigating the global realities of publishing in the 21st Century through its professional development programming, government relations efforts, and opportunities for collaboration and partnership. For more information visit www.AEPweb.org.

  
   
• Whom should I contact with questions?

  For questions about AEP membership, please contact Jo-Ann McDevitt at 856-241-7772.
   
  For questions about the ISBN Granting Program, please contact Stacey Pusey, AEP Content Manager, at 856-241-7772.
   
  For questions about Bowker and the ISBN process, please contact Denielle Starr, Publisher Liaison, Publisher Relations, Data Services for Bowker, at 908-219-011.
  

  
   

If you have any problems or questions, please contact AEP at 856-241-7772 at any time. We are here to help.

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