2. Advantages of the ISBN

• The ISBN is a unique international identifier for monographic publications; the ten-digit number therefore replaces the handling of long bibliographic descriptive records. Time and staff are saved, copying mistakes are avoided.



• The ISBN allows compilation and updating of book-trade directories, like Books in Print. Information on available books can be easily found.



• Ordering and distribution of books is mainly executed by ISBN; this is a fast and efficient method.



• The ISBN is machine-readable in the form of a 13-digit Bookland EAN bar code. This is fast and avoids mistakes.



• The ISBN is needed for the running of electronic point-of-sale systems in bookshops.



• Rights management is mainly done on the basis of ISBN.



• Sales data monitoring is done by ISBN.



• Libraries profit from copy-cataloguing by ISBN.



• The national lending right in some countries is based on ISBN.