Introduction

ISBN has changed to 13 digits from 1 January 2007

In 1967, the International Standard Book Numbering (ISBN) System was formally established. Hong Kong joined the system in 1976. ISBN can identify a given title, its publisher, place of publicationition and binding efficiently and accurately. It is widely used in the publishing and book selling industries and amongst librarians for book ordering and stock control.

Composition

With effect from 1 January 2007, every ISBN comprises 13 digits. This 13-digits number is divided into five parts of variable lengths. The five parts are as follows:

1. Prefix Element - it is available from EAN International. Currently, 978 is being added as Prefix Element. When ISBNs with 978 are exhausted, new ISBNs with 979 prefix will be issued.
2. Group Identifier - it identifies the national language, geographic or other similar grouping of publishers. The Group Identifier for Hong Kong is "962" or "988".  
3. Publisher Prefix - this designates the publisher of a given book.  
4. Title Number - this is assigned to a given title or edition of a title by the publisher.  
5. Check Digit - it checks the correctness of the ISBN.

   Each part is separated by a hyphen or space.

   Example

   ISBN	978	-	962	-	215	-	001	-	0	or
   ISBN	978		962		215		001		0

    

Constructing an ISBN

• Multiply each of the first 12 digits of the ISBN alternately with 1 and 3 ;  
• Add the weighted products to form a total sum ;  
• Divide the sum of the weighted products of the first 12 digits by 10, determining the remainder ; and
• Subtract the remainder with 10 to get a number ranging from 1 to 10, but replacing 10 with 0. This number will form the Check Digit. 

 

Example :

Prefix Group Identifier Publisher Identifier Title Number Check Digit Sum ISBN 9 7 8 9 8 8 9 7 0 1 0 7 ? - Weight 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 - - Product 9 21 8 27 8 24 9 21 0 3 0 21 - 151

9 + 21 + 8 + 27 + 8 + 24 + 9 + 21 + 0 + 3 + 0 + 21 = 151 151 ÷ 10 = 15 remainder = 1 Check digit = 10 - 1 = 9 In this case, the valid ISBN is 978-988-97010-7-9

Scope

Types of publications and materials included in the ISBN scheme :

• printed books and pamphlets  
• microforms  
• educational video or movies  
• mixed media publications  
• microcomputer software (please refer to the guidelines extracted from ISBN Review)  
• atlases and maps  
• publications in Braille  
• electronic publications  

Types of publications and materials excluded from the ISBN scheme :

• diaries, calendars  
• advertising matters  
• newspapers, magazines  
• art folders without title page and text  
• sound recordings alone  
• serial publications  

Charge

Free

Application Form

Enquiries

Books Registration Office
Hong Kong Public Libraries
Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Room 805, 8/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices,
19 Lai Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon. (Exit C, MTR Mei Foo Station)

Tel.: 2180 9146
Fax.: 2180 9841
E-mail: bro@lcsd.gov.hk

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