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The
Mysterious ISBN
An
International Standard Book Number (ISBN) in your book (copyright
page), and on the back cover (in the form of a barcode), is
recommended and in many cases required to sell in the retail
marketplace. Even self-published authors can register themselves as a
publisher and obtain their own single or block of ISBNs.
What
do the actual numbers mean?
The
ISBN system is International. The numbers are separated by the dash.
The
first 3 numbers (978) is the prefix given to books published in the
U.S. The number 979 is also given to the U.S. but won’t be used
until the 978 numbers are used up.
The
next numbers are the Publisher’s prefix. This number identifies
who the publisher is.
The
next set of numbers are the sequence numbers, meaning which number
is assigned to which title. The ISBN log book is given to each
publisher and they are required to track the number usage.
The
last number is a check sum digit. The computer calculates the string
and assigns a number in a method that verifies it is an authentic
number. Without this check sum digit, the computation would be false
and the number rejected as a fake.
Price
extension: In making the barcode one has the option of adding a
price extension. This 4 digit number is preceded by a number that
represents the currency. In the U.S. the number is 5 meaning U.S. Dollars.
I
have a friend that says he’ll let me use his UPC code. Can I
send it to you and you make me a barcode for it?
No
and Yes. The UPC (Universal Product Code) system is NOT the ISBN
system. I actually have a brother that sells fishing lures. He has a
UPC number that identifies his company and then 3 digits to identify
which lure it is. And yes, I made him a barcode. Some books do use
both systems for when they put their books in grocery stores or other
stores (big-box stores—no names needed). We don’t sell UPC
numbers. But you’re welcome to visit their website (http://www.uc-council.org).
Yes, I can make a barcode for your UPC number, but it can’t be
used in place of the ISBN system.
I
need to change the price. Do I have to have a new barcode?
Each
barcode is made individually and specifically to each title. There
can’t be a group discount on barcodes. If it’s your number
you’re using and you’ve sent the wrong number and we have
to make it again, it’s a new barcode and hence you’re
charged the full price again. If you’ve decided to add a dollar
(or a penny), to your price extension, it’s a new barcode,
charged as such.
There
isn’t much room on my back cover, can you make it smaller?
After all, what’s more important, the words on the back or this
box of lines?
Readability
of the barcode IS more important. If the barcode is reduced (or
enlarged) +/- 5% then the computer scanners may not read it. I
didn’t say it won’t, but the readability guarantee is +/-
5%. If it’s too small and the computer doesn’t read it,
there’s a chance the bookstore will sticker over your barcode
with one that is readable. I’ve never seen a small re-pricing
sticker. They always are much, much larger than the original barcode.
It’s
such a stark looking critter. Can you change the color to pink and
put it in a pretty box? It would look much nicer.
This
is a readability issue. It is what it is—black lines on a white
background. It’s a little spot of technology that we live with
so the computer scanner can work its magic and do its job.
I
Hope this helps take some of the mystery out of all those thick and
line lines and spaces. There is a rumor (not verified) that hidden
deep in the barcode are the numbers 666—the ol’ mark of the
beast thing again. I’m sure if we look hard enough we’ll
see the devil trying to get into everything.
Disclaimer: Not
responsible for advice, ideas, suggestions and/or
programs. By
mentioning these programs or any other program, I’m in no way
endorsing these or any other programs for you and/or your project.
Any advice, ideas or suggestions and/or programs mentioned are
considered my opinion only and am considered not liable. Not
responsible for sales or lack of sales of your project.
Brian@SunriseBooks.com
SunrisePublishing@gmail.com |
