The Importance of Getting an Authorized and Legitimate ISBN Number
The ISBN connects important details about your book: what it is, who wrote it, and what it’s about. Since the ISBN is closely tied to the book itself, it’s important to know exactly what you’re buying and who you’re buying it from. One key part of ISBN identification is linking the book’s information to the Global Books in Print Database. Because of our special relationship with the US ISBN Agency, ISBNs and barcodes are instantly delivered from the agency.
Authorized ISBN assignments should always connect back to the book data entered by the author or publisher and be visible in global databases. The US ISBN Agency has a public website, https://bookwire.bowker.com, where you can find books included in their database. As an authorized partner, the database will show either the publisher’s name (for Publisher Packages) or Independent Publisher (for Self Publisher Packages) as the imprint name.
Are there Unauthorized Resellers of ISBNs?
Unfortunately, some companies online take advantage of new self-publishers. Since an ISBN uniquely identifies a book for its entire lifespan, it’s crucial for authors to ensure that the company assigning the ISBN is legitimate and secure. For instance, there’s a company named isbnagency.com that isn’t the official U.S. ISBN agency.
A key part of getting an ISBN is registering your book’s information and cover art in the Global Books In Print Database, which helps your book be found by readers. ISBN US clients can enter and upload their title information and cover art through our online portal, automatically updating the master database. Without this, you could end up with just a random number. Also, be cautious of companies offering 30-day money-back guarantees with ISBN purchases—ISBNs should never be reassigned to another book once issued!
The U.S. ISBN Agency only allows certain channel partners, like ISBN US and Amazon, to buy and distribute ISBNs. This means that when you get an ISBN from ISBN US, you know it’s from a legitimate source. Because your ISBN is provided through an authorized channel, your book’s data will be properly communicated through the official bibliographic database (Bowker’s Books In Print) and reach the widest possible audience. Our clients have complete control over the data they want to publish to the database through our portals. For transparency, all book data from ISBN US can be searched on https://bookdatabase.online.
This may not always be the case with unauthorized resellers. When choosing where to buy an ISBN, be careful of companies that claim to sell “authentic” or “trusted” ISBNs but aren’t authorized to do so.
Other Issues
One telltale sign that a company is not providing authentic ISBN assignments is the actual barcode image being provided. Many of these discount websites are providing low-resolution jpg files that are not correctly formatted or usable for book production.
Please be aware that there are unauthorized resellers of ISBNs, and that this activity is a violation of the ISBN standard and of industry practice. Advertisements with the words like CHEAP ISBN and BANG FOR YOUR BUCK are warning signs that users should take caution. Since the ISBN assignment uniquely identifies a title for the life of the book, authors need to be assured of the legitimacy and security of the assigning company. There is even a company that calls itself isbnagency.com, they are not the U.S. ISBN agency.
NOTE: There are some ebook publishing companies offering discounted assignments. Aside from not having direct access to the Global Books in Print database, their barcodes do not comply with the ISBN standards. As the largest provider of barcode symbols to publishers, our digital barcode files are now the industry standard. The inclusion of a barcode symbol is a necessity for printed books, so make sure the barcode on your cover is professional and readable.
If you use one of these illegitimate ISBNs, you will not be correctly identified as the publisher of record in Books In Print or any of the industry databases, such as Barnes & Noble or Amazon, or in the databases of wholesalers such as Ingram.
Think of an ISBN number as a driver’s license for your book – it tells retailers everything they need to know about your book at a glance. However, if you buy an ISBN from an illegitimate source, it’s along the same lines as buying a driver’s license on a street corner: you’re certainly buying a license, but you don’t know whose you’re buying!
You have spent time bringing your book to life, make sure you obtain an ISBN from a legitimate source like ISBN US to make it available to as many potential readers as possible!
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