New ISBN Numbers Are Coming

Posted on April 12, 2006

The ISBN number on the back of all books is getting ready for a change: the new ISBN numbers will be 13 digits long, instead of 11 digits long. Most publishers are getting ready for the change by issuing both an ISBN-11 and an ISBN-13 for books this year. The change will take effect on January 1, 2007.

But why is this happening, you may ask. Well, apparently we're running out of ISBN numbers and the powers that be want all books around the world to have a common identifier.

You can have all of your burning questions about the new ISBN numbers answered here, at the Book Information Study Group. And try to remain calm about this disturbing change.

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