ISBN and ISSN
ISBN
The purpose of the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is to coordinate and standardize the use of identifying numbers so that each ISBN is unique to a title, edition of a book, or monographic publication -- braille, microform, and electronic publications, as well as audiobooks, educational/instructional videos/DVDs and software – published or produced by a specific publisher or producer. MF’s publisher number is 8404.
The library assigns ISBNs to MF’s publications on demand: bibliotek@mf.no
Number of copies for the library:
It is required to submit 4 physical copies + 1 digital copy of all publications published by MF to the library:
- Legal Deposit:The library deposits 3 copies to the National Library’s Legal Deposit, cf. the law: lov om avleveringsplikt for allment tilgjengelige dokument
- 1 copy is for the MF library
- Digital files of documents (to be published in MF Open, MF’s Digital Archive) should be sent to: bibliotek@mf.no
What sorts of products are eligible to be identified by ISBN?
Types of publication that qualify for ISBN:
- Printed books and pamphlets
- Audiobooks
- Microform publications
- Electronic publications either on physical carriers (such as machine-readable tapes, diskettes, or CD-ROMs) or on the Internet
Products that do not qualify for ISBN:
Any publication that does not have a defined end (e.g. a continuing resource such as a periodical or newspaper that will appear in subsequent issues over time) should not be assigned an ISBN.
- Journals, periodicals, serials, newspapers in their entirety
- Ephemeral printed materials such as advertising matter and the like
- Art prints and art portfolios without title page and text
- Offprints of journals and festscrhifts
- Programmes
- Course programmes
- Lists of works from exhibitions
- Posters
- Forms
Where should I display an ISBN?
- The ISBN should be included on the copyright page (also called the title verso page) or at the foot of the title page if there is no room on the copyright page.
- If there is no bar code, then the ISBN should also be on the back cover or jacket preferably on the lower right.
The ISBN takes the form of the acronym ISBN followed by five groups of 3-2-4-3-1 digits, separated by hyphens: ISBN 978-82-8404-001-1
ISSN
ISBNs are not assigned to magazines, academic journals or other periodicals. These types of publications can be assigned an ISSN (International Standard Serial Number). The ISSN identifies the publication as such, in reference to its title and its medium. As such, you will always have the same ISSN for all:
- issues of a periodical,
- issues of a magazine,
- CD-Roms in a series, etc.
If a single issue of a periodical (typically a yearbook) is being sold as a book, then that issue alone may be assigned an ISBN.
Questions?
If you have any further questions regarding ISBN and ISSN, please send an e-mail to bibliotek@mf.no