ISBN Acquisition

What is an ISBN and do I really need one?
- ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number and is a 13-digit number that identifies published books. Once assigned to a book, an ISBN can never be reused. An ISBN identifies the registrant, title, edition and format of products used by publishers, bookstores, libraries, etc. and is important for ordering, sales reporting and inventory control. An ISBN increases the chances that your book will be found. Most bookstores will not sell your book if it is not listed in their warehouse database, and to be included in their warehouse database, your book must have a unique ISBN.
How many ISBNs do I need?
- You will need one ISBN for each edition and format of your book (i.e. eBook, paperback, hardback, audiobook, etc.). The ISBN identifies the publisher as well as the specific book title, edition and format. You can't use the same ISBN from your paperback or hardcover for an eBook—you'll need a different ISBN.
Amazon will give me one for free, why do I need to buy one?
- If you’re going to publish on other platforms you’ll need an ISBN of your own. You can’t use Amazon’s. If you purchase your own you will be the publisher on record, not Amazon. And most importantly, you will have complete control over your book’s metadata, including the book description and its category.