Barcodes for Books – How do they work?

So you have fulfilled your lifelong dream of writing a book and now you want to publish it? What do you do now? There are so many different barcodes out there in the world – it is easy to get confused about exactly which barcode you need to sell your book. SA Barcodes, who have been in the local barcoding business for over a decade, is here to explain the next step and help you on your way to publishing success.

ISBN number vs ISBN barcode

Once you have completed writing your book, the next step is to find a publisher that wants to publish it. This publisher will require both an ISBN number and a barcode. ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number and having this number and the linked ISBN barcode is what eventually gets your book sold. The ISBN number was developed as international collaboration and has spread to over 150 countries throughout the world. In the beginning, the ISBN numbers were only 10 digits long. However, in 2007, they were lengthened to 13 digits.

If you look in a library or retail bookshop, every book will have an ISBN number and an accompanying barcode. The ISBN number is your publication’s ID, registered in the international database of books, while the ISBN barcode is required for inventory control – traditional retailers and online retailers all require this. In libraries, scanning the ISBN barcode at the checkout counter makes it easier for them to control the books coming and going out on a daily basis. This is why it is necessary for you to acquire an ISBN barcode in order to publish your book in South Africa.

How to get an ISBN number

You can acquire an ISBN number for your publication by applying via the National Library of South Africa and their sub-agency the International Standard Numbering (ISN) Agency. This process can take more than a week so be sure to plan ahead. You need a separate, individual ISBN number for each book you publish as well as for each different version of your book. For example, if you are publishing your book in both softcover and hardcover versions, you will need to apply for two unique ISBN numbers. ISBN numbers are 13 digits long and identify the specific publication – the number provides a direct link to the publisher, title, publication date, region, and edition of each book.

How to get an ISBN barcode

Once you have received your ISBN number, it is necessary to create an ISBN barcode linked to it. This is where SA Barcodes comes in. The barcode that you buy will be linked specifically to your ISBN number, which you will need to have ready. The barcode itself is guaranteed to be unique and, with the certificate of authentication issued, will be yours to use forever. This ISBN barcode is derived from the EAN-13 barcode but has been adapted to apply to publications only. These barcodes originated from the international barcode database (GS1). Although you can acquire barcodes directly from GS1, doing so involves a lengthy process of registration, membership fees, and annual renewal fees on barcodes that you “buy” from them.

After you have received your ISBN barcode, you need to attach it to your book. There are two ways to do this. Firstly, you can incorporate it into the design of your book cover (directly print it on the book – this is the most common way of doing it). Or, you can print the barcode on stickers or labels and manually attach these stickers to each individual book.

Getting an ISBN number and barcode for your book does not have to be a complicated, lengthy procedure. SA Barcodes can make it a simple, fast and uncomplicated process. Contact them if you would like to find out more information on ISBN numbers and ISBN barcodes – or any other barcode related matters, as they have seen and heard it all! For more information on acquiring barcodes in South Africa (and not just ISBN barcodes), check out this article.