Resources Shed Light on the Transition to ISBN-13

Effective January 1, 2007, the length of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) will officially change from 10 digits to 13 digits. This change has ramifications for everyone in the book business, including booksellers, librarians, publishers, wholesalers, and POS vendors.

To help book industry professionals navigate the switch, on Thursday, September 15, the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) is holding an online seminar, or "webinar," designed to unravel the complexities of the transition. BISG's hour-long session will be held at 2:00 p.m. (EST). The cost is $35, and registration is through BISG's website, bisg.org. Questions may be addressed to BISG at (646) 336-7141 or [email protected].

The BISG web page, bisg.org/isbn-13/, includes timelines, an FAQ, labeling and ordering information, and much more. Among these resources is a downloadable PDF of Wiley's "ISBN-13 for Dummies," which addresses what an ISBN is, transitioning to the ISBN-13, and becoming ISBN-13 compliant. Bookstores with Book Sense should be on the lookout for a copy of "ISBN-13 for Dummies" in the September Red Box.