Who needs an ISBN

  Publishing houses

The ISBN serves as a unique identifier for

• monographic publications, from manuscript through all editorial and manufacture processes until the item is finished
• stock control
• ordering
• accounting
• handling or returns
• sales data monitoring
• right and royalty management

  Book traders

The ISBN serves as a unique identifier for

• ordering / teleordering
• accounting and billing
• bibliographic searches
• stock control
• electronic point-of-sale systems
• Books in Print directories

  Libraries

The ISBN serves as a unique identifier for

• ordering
• information retrieval
• copy cataloguing
• circulation and interlending
• national lending rights
• the national bibliography