PRINTING THE ISMN: When the number is either written or printed, it must be preceded by the letters "ISMN" and each part must be separated by a hyphen. The ISMN number should be printed in at least 9 point type.

EXAMPLE:

ISMN M-321-76543-6 or

International Standard Music Number M-321-76550-4

(NOTE: HYPHENATION VARIES WITH SIZE OF PREFIX)

PRINTING ON HARDCOVER/PAPERBACK EDITIONS: The ISMN should be printed on the verso of the title page (copyright page) and on the lower portion of the outside back cover if the score or part has one. When the item is a single sheet the ISMN should appear in only one place on the item.

BAR CODE: The international 13-digit bar code allows the ISMN to be printed in a worldwide compatible bar code format. A 979 prefix has been established for printed music only. M is assigned the numeric value of zero (0) for bar code purposes. EAN technical requirements for bar code printing should be observed. A bar code film master suppliers list is available from the ISMN Agency.

EXAMPLE:

ISMN	M-345-12345-8
M = 0	0345123458
ISMN bookland number	9790345123458

PRINTING OF THE ISMN IN PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS: The complete ISMN (the letter M followed by nine digits) should appear in all catalogs, publishers' advertisements and promotional materials. An ISMN is only valid and can only be validated when the M and nine digits are displayed.

ISMN CAN NEVER BE REUSED: Once an ISMN is assigned, it CANNOT BE REASSIGNED even if the title goes out of print. In addition to being an order fulfillment tool, the ISMN is a bibliographic element for identification and is entered in national and international databases.

WHEN A TITLE IS REPRINTED, REGARDLESS OF PRICE CHANGE, THE ORIGINAL ISMN MUST BE MAINTAINED.

EDITIONS/BINDINGS/FORMATS: A separate ISMN must be assigned to each different binding in which a particular title is published, even if the contents are exactly the same i.e. a hardcover edition, a paperback edition, a microform edition of the same score, each receives a separate ISMN. REVISED editions require a new ISMN.

MULTI-VOLUME WORKS: An ISMN must be assigned to the whole set of volumes of a multi-volume publication as well as to each individual volume in the set. The ISMN for the individual volume and the ISMN for the set should be printed in each volume. (Note: If one volume is printed text only, it may also be given an ISMN).

EXAMPLE:

ISMN M-321-76549-8 (Volume 1)

ISMN M-321-76548-1 (Set)

BACKLIST: Publishers should number their backlist titles and publish the ISMNs in their catalogs. The ISMN must also be printed in the first available reprint of a backlist title.

CO-PUBLICATIONS: A publication issued as a co-edition or joint imprint with another publisher can be assigned ISMNs by each publisher. However, if only one publisher is the distributor, only that publisher should assign an ISMN.

PUBLISHERS ACQUIRING ANOTHER COMPANY WITH ISMN PREFIX: The originally assigned ISMN must be used until the title is reprinted under the new company imprint. Promptly report any name and address changes, mergers, acquisitions, ceased publishing, etc., to the ISMN Agency.

PUBLISHERS ACQUIRING COMPLETE STOCK OF ANOTHER COMPANY: Publishers must use the ISMN of the ORIGINAL PUBLISHER (if assigned) until the new company reprints under its OWN IMPRINT. If several publishers have bought the rights to a musical work, each for their own territory, each will assign their own ISMN.

DISTRIBUTORS: A distributor, even an exclusive distributor, must use the ISMN of the PUBLISHER in all promotional materials. If a U.S. Publisher does not have an ISMN Publisher Prefix, the publisher should contact the ISMN Agency.

When a foreign publisher is from a country that has not implemented the ISMN, the distributor must contact the International ISMN Agency headquarters in Berlin for approval to assign their own number until the country involved utilizes the ISMN system.

PRINTING FOR CLIENT: Publishers acting only as a PRINTER and returning all stock to the client, MUST USE THE ISMN OF THE PUBLISHER (client) ON THE COPYRIGHT PAGE AND BACK COVER. If publishers do not have an ISMN Publisher Prefix, they should contact the ISMN Agency.

We wish to stress the importance of implementing the ISMN system and observing its standards exactly. Any deviation, i.e., not using M and nine digits, or assigning a new ISMN for only a price change, would make communication difficult between order fulfillment units.