If you are self-publishing in Australia, one of the first practical questions you will face is the ISBN. It is a small number with a big job, and getting it right from the start saves headaches later. Here is what every Australian author should know.
What is an ISBN?
An ISBN, or International Standard Book Number, is a 13-digit number that identifies one specific edition of one specific book. Bookshops, libraries, distributors and online stores use it to find, order and track your book. It also appears as the barcode on your back cover.
An ISBN is not copyright. Your copyright exists automatically in Australia as soon as you write your work. The ISBN simply identifies the published book.
Where do Australian authors get ISBNs?
Each country has one official ISBN agency. In Australia, it is Thorpe-Bowker, and ISBNs are purchased through its online service, myidentifiers.com.au. You can buy a single ISBN or a block of numbers, and blocks work out cheaper per number if you plan to publish more than one format or more than one book.
When you register an ISBN, you record details such as the title, author, format, publication date and publisher name. Those details travel with your book through the supply chain, so it is worth entering them carefully.
How many ISBNs do you need?
You need a separate ISBN for each format of your book. A typical self-published book might need:
- One ISBN for the paperback
- One for the hardback, if you publish one
- One for the ebook
- One for the audiobook, if you produce one
A new edition with substantial changes also needs a new ISBN. Minor corrections, such as fixing typos, do not.
Should you use a free ISBN?
Platforms such as Amazon KDP offer free ISBNs for paperbacks, and Kindle ebooks do not need one at all. That sounds convenient, but there are trade-offs:
- The free ISBN lists the platform, not you, as the publisher.
- It can only be used on that platform, so you need different numbers elsewhere.
- Bookshops and libraries may treat books with platform ISBNs differently.
Buying your own ISBNs keeps your name, or your imprint, as the publisher everywhere your book is sold. For most authors who want their book in bookshops and libraries as well as online, owning your ISBNs is the better choice.
Don't forget legal deposit
Once your book is published, Australian law requires you to deposit copies with the National Library of Australia. You must also deposit with your state or territory library. For ebooks and other digital publications, the National edeposit service (NED) lets you meet your national and state obligations in a single deposit.
Legal deposit applies to self-published authors just as it does to large publishers. It preserves your book as part of Australia's published history, and it is free to do.
Common ISBN mistakes to avoid
- Using one ISBN for several formats. Each format needs its own number.
- Entering incomplete details. Missing information makes your book harder for shops and libraries to find.
- Forgetting the barcode. Print books need an ISBN barcode on the back cover for retail.
- Skipping legal deposit. It is a legal requirement, not an optional extra.
Let us handle it
At Flinders Press, we register ISBNs, assign one to each format, add the barcode to your cover and lodge your book for legal deposit as part of our ISBN and legal deposit service. It is one less thing to worry about on the road to publication.