Introduction                      

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) system, established in 1967, was introduced to Hong Kong in 1976.  ISBNs allow efficient and accurate identification of book titles, publishers, and places of publication.  They are widely used by publishers, booksellers, and libraries for book ordering and stock control.  The original 10-digit format has expanded to 13 digits since 1 January 2007.

How to Apply for ISBN

1. Company/Organisation Publisher
   Submit the following documents to the Books Registration Office (BRO) by post or in person:
   (a)  the completed “International Standard Book Number (ISBN)” Application Form; and
   (b)  a copy of Business Registration Certificate (valid for at least three months) or Certificate of Registration of a Society.
2. Individual Publisher
   Bring along your Hong Kong Identity Card to the BRO and submit the application in person.

Application Fee

Free of charge

Application Form

Notes on Application for ISBN

1. The assignment of ISBN to published books is not a statutory requirement in Hong Kong, nor is it related to or associated with copyright ownership.
2. No application fee is required. ISBNs carry no expiry dates but are not to be reused.
3. According to the guidelines from the International ISBN Agency, ISBNs should be assigned on the basis of the operation locations of publishers.  As such, the ISBNs issued by BRO are for use by publishers operating in Hong Kong only and should not be assigned to books published outside Hong Kong, including Mainland China and overseas.
4. A company/organisation should provide its address in Hong Kong as shown on its Business Registration Certificate (issued by the Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong) or Certificate of Registration of a Society (issued by the Police Licensing Office, Hong Kong Police Force) and furnish a copy of the certificate as proof.  Besides, it may also be required to furnish supplementary proof of operation address.
5. In general, the ISBNs will be sent by post within 3 to 4 working days to the Hong Kong address specified in the application form, provided that the documents and information submitted by the applicant are in order and complete.
6. The quantity of ISBNs to be issued by the BRO depends on the publisher’s actual needs (e.g. publication progress) and track records of book publication/registration.  In general, at least 10 ISBNs will be issued under one application. When about 70% of the ISBNs owned by a publisher have been used, and the books have been duly delivered to the BRO for registration in accordance with the Books Registration Ordinance (Cap. 142), the publisher may apply for the next batch of ISBNs following the same procedure as the first application.
7. If any ISBNs are assigned to non-print publications (e.g. e-books and audio books), the publisher should notify the BRO in writing.
8. ISBNs are inapplicable to newspapers, magazines and periodicals, which fall under the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) system.  For details, visit the ISSN website at www.issn.org.
9. ISBNs are non-transferable.  The ISBNs issued by the BRO are for use by the applicant only.  The ISBN and the corresponding publisher printed on a book should match with BRO records.
10. Written notification should be sent to the BRO for any change of particulars.  In the case of change of business name or address of a company/organisation, a copy of the updated Business Registration Certificate/Certificate of Registration of a Society should be furnished.
11. If necessary, please visit the following website for reference:
    International ISBN Agency:
    www.isbn-international.org/faqs/view/5
    Books Registration Office, Hong Kong Public Libraries:
    http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/english/books_reg/books_reg_isbn/books_reg_isbn.html

Scope

 ISBNs are applicable to:

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

 ISBNs are not applicable to:

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

Structure of an ISBN

1. Every ISBN comprises 13 digits, which can be grouped into five sections:
2. Prefix Element – Adopting the Prefix Element assigned to books by the EAN International, all ISBNs are currently prefixed by “978”.  When ISBNs with “978” prefix are exhausted, the new “979” prefix will be used.
3. Group Identifier – This identifies the particular country, geographical region, or language area of the publisher.  The Group Identifier of Hong Kong is “962” or “988”.
4. Publisher Prefix – This identifies the publisher of a given book.
5. Title Number – This is assigned by the publisher to a given title or an edition of a given title.
6. Check Digit – This validates the ISBN.

Calculation of the Check Digit

1. Multiply each of the first 12 digits of the ISBN by alternate weights of 1 and 3;
2. Add all the weighted products together;
3. Divide the sum by 10 to determine the remainder; and
4. Finally subtract the remainder from 10 to derive the Check Digit.  If there is no remainder (i.e. the sum is divisible by 10), then the Check Digit is 0.

Enquiries

Books Registration Office, Hong Kong Public Libraries
Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Tel. No.: 2180 9145 / 2180 9146
Fax No.: 2180 9841
Address: Room 805, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, 19 Lai Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon
(Exit C, MTR Mei Foo Station)
E-mail: bro@lcsd.gov.hk