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Preamble
The International Standard Book
Number is known throughout the world as a short, clear and potentially machine-readable
identification number which marks any book unmistakably. Whenever these
intellectual products are covered by specific numbering systems e.g. ISSN,
ISMN, these should be used.
The ISBN accompanies a publication from its production onwards. It is an
essential instrument in modern distribution and rationalisation opportunities
in the booktrade.
Scope
The word «book» is
used in this manual in the sense of «publication». With regard
to various media available, the term «book» should be understood
as synonymous with content. Therefore, it is of no importance in what
physical form this content is documented and distributed.1
For the purposes of the ISBN system books and other items to be numbered
include:
A. Printed books and
pamphlets including braille and maps 2
- Printed books and pamphlets
B. Non-Printed
Books 3
C. Mixed media publications
(including text material)
Except:
Ephemeral printed materials such
as diaries, calendars (note-books 3), advertising matter and
the like,
Art prints and art folders without title page and text,
Sound recordings (see chapter 12.3.)
Serial publications (see chapter 12.1.)
Sheet music (see chapter 12.2)
1 In
this connection see also Appendix (Notes on the allocation of ISBNs to
non-printed books)
2 It
has been agreed not to draft international rules for assigning ISBN to
maps because there is evidence that the system works quite well on a national
basis. The following general rules should be observed:
- For cartographic
products sold in the book market, the ISBN rules apply.
- As with books,
minor alterations do not constitute a new edition. Only if this version
is especially mentioned in the title or in sales promotion, a new ISBN
has to be used.
3 Wall
calendars and calendars in book form with plates and text are assigned
ISBN in a number of countries as they are considered genuine publications
and distributed almost exclusively through book shops.
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