The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is an international identification code which is unique to a particular title of work. It helps by allowing accurate cataloguing, ordering, accounting, billing, and stock control or simply put - it marks your book and makes its unique. It is a unique 10-digit number (changing to 13 digits in January 2007).The ISBN accompanies a publication from its production onwards.
The ISBN is divided into four parts, separated clearly by hyphens or spaces:
ISBN 1 4120 4420 0
ISBN 1-4120-4420-0
The number of digits in the first three parts of the ISBN (group identifier,
publisher prefix, title identifier) varies. The number of digits in the group
number and in the publisher prefix is determined by the quantity of titles
planned to be produced by the publisher or publisher group. Publishers or
publisher groups with large title outputs are represented by fewer digits.
The ISN Agency for South Africa, located at the National Library of South Africa, has been in operation since 1970. The ISN Agency assigns ISBN and ISSN to South African publications.
The National Librarian
The National Library of South Africa
ISN Agency
Attn.: Ms. Magret Kibido
P.O. Box 397
Pretoria 0001
Tel. (+27 (0)12) 401 9718
Fax: (+27 (0)12) 324 2441
E-mail: Magret.Kibido@nlsa.ac.za
ISN.agency@nlsa.ac.za
URL: http://www.nlsa.ac.za