All About ISBNs

Stands for International Standard Book Number
A unique 10- or 13-digit number assigned to every published book available for retail sale
Used by bookstores, retailers, and libraries identify books.

Required: If you are publishing your book for retail distribution to bookstores and online through online retailers like amazon.com
NOT Required: e-Book version
NOT Required: If you are printing copies to sell directly or give away directly.

Whenever you publish a different version of your book that includes changes as…

You DO NOT need a new ISBN to make the following changes.

KDP can provide you with a free ISBN to publish your paperback.
Your book’s ISBN information will be registered with BooksInPrint.com®
The “Publisher” field on your paperback’s Amazon detail page will read “Independently published.”
Can only be used on KDP for distribution to Amazon and its distribution partners.
Cannot be used with another publisher or self-publishing service.

You can purchase your own ISBN from Bowker U.S. or local ISBN agency outside U.S.
ISBNs purchased from Bowker can be used to publish titles in any language
KDP authors can purchase an ISBN at a discounted rate ($99) from Bowker at https://www.myidentifiers.com/cart
KDP will verify that your book’s imprint matches what is on file with Bowker

If your publishing company is based in the US, you can purchase bulk ISBNs as a publisher through Bowker at My Identifiers.
KDP authors can purchase an ISBN at a discounted rate ($99) from Bowker at https://www.myidentifiers.com/cart
If your publishing company is based in the UK, you can purchase ISBNs from Nielsen.
In many other countries, ISBNs are free, provided by the government through the library system or another administrative branch. To look up the agency for the region your publishing company is based, used the the search tool at the International ISBN Agency .

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