Independent Retailers
FAQs about the 13-digit ISBN and the 2005 Sunrise- and GTIN- Initiatives
Over the next few years a major evolution and convergence will take place in the unique
identifiers used to identify books as well as other products sold in the North American
market. Booksellers should discuss these developments with their bookstore systems
vendors and/or in-house I.T. personnel to ensure that they are ready for the changes
which are coming..
What exactly is changing?
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Not only is the structure of the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) changing. Over
the next few years a major evolution will take place with regard to the unique identifiers for
both books and other products sold by both booksellers and other retailers in North America:
 The ISBN Revision:
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The ISBN will be expanded to thirteen-digits. Developed in the late 1960s, the ISBN is an
international standard administered by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO). ISO requires a review (and possible revision) of its standards every five years. As part
of the current review and revision, the ISBN will be expanded from a 10-digit to a 13-digit
number effective January 1, 2007.
ISBN and Bookland EAN. The expansion of the ISBN to thirteen digits will be
accomplished by adding the “978” ‘Bookland” EAN prefix and recalculating the final check
digit. Thus each existing ISBN will become one and the same with the corresponding
Bookland EAN already represented in the bar code printed on cover four of most trade books
and on cover two of mass market books.
UCC / EAN Initiatives:
 2005 Sunrise: The Uniform Code Council (UCC) has administered the 12-digit UPC
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(Uniform Product Code) bar code used in general merchandise retailing in the US and
Canada for thirty years. The rest of the world has been using a 13-digit EAN (International
[formerly European] Article Number) bar code for the last quarter century. To improve
global commerce efficiency, the UCC has joined with the EAN in setting a Sunrise date of
January 1, 2005 as the date by which US and Canadian general merchandise retailers should
be able to scan and process the 13-digit EAN/UCC bar code as well as the 12-digit UPC.
(2005 Sunrise compliance also includes the ability to scan and process the 8-digit EAN/UCC8 bar code for magazines.). Booksellers, unlike general merchandise retailers, have been
working with 13 digits in the form of the Bookland EAN for years.
GTIN: The UCC also suggests that North American firms update and expand databases,
systems, and applications in order to be able to deal with the entire GTIN (Global Trade Item
Number) family of EAN/UCC data structures for trade item identification. In addition to
EAN/UCC-8, UCC-12 (the UPC) and EAN/UCC-13 (The Bookland EAN bar code is a
EAN/UCC-13 identifier), GTIN also includes the EAN/UCC-14, which is derived by adding a
leading fourteenth digit to indicate packaging level (unit, carton, pallet, etc.) to the other
members of the GTIN family. All members of the GTIN family should be expressed
numerically as fourteen-digit numbers by right justifying the number and adding the required
number of leading zeros to reach fourteen digits. (The lengths of the underlying bar codes do
not change). The Book Industry Study Group has recommended that all communication
between book industry trading partners utilize this 14-digit format. For retailers, EAN/UCC14 has uses in communication with suppliers but not at point-of-sale. GTIN is only a term. It
does NOT change existing standard identifiers. Current EAN and UPC bar codes will not go
away.
Why are these changes being made?
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ISBN: Just as phone companies recognized the need for additional area codes to accommodate the
growing demand for phone numbers, the book industry has become aware that the maximum number
of ISBNs available under the current 10-digit system will not be sufficient to accommodate expected
growth in demand for new ISBNs. The move to 13-digit identifiers may also enable book publishers
to use a single bar code world wide rather than having to print a 12-digit price point UPC on the rear
cover of some books such as mass market paperbacks for retailers who currently who cannot or do
not wish to deal with the item-specific 13-digit Bookland EAN.
EAN/UCC-13: Once US and Canadian retailers are able to deal with the 13-digit bar identifiers
already in use in the rest of the world, they will be able to trade more easily in the global market,
without the need to re-label or oversticker products from other markets. After 1/1/2005, the UCC
will also begin to assign longer EAN (rather than UCC) manufacturer prefixes to new US firms,
whose products will then carry 13-digit EANs rather than UPCs
EAN/UCC-14: The use of the EAN/UCC-14, incorporating the packing level indicator, will enable
some firms in the book industry (publishers, wholesalers, mass merchandisers, large chains) to
process orders electronically in case pack (and higher) quantities as well as in single units.
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How exactly will the identifiers change?
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13-digit ISBN: The current 10-digit ISBN will be restated as a 13-digit EAN by dropping the final
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check digit, adding a leading “978” to the remaining 9-digit “core” and calculating a new, modulus-10
check digit. This is the same process now used to encode the ISBN as the Bookland EAN printed in
numerical and bar code form on cover 4 (the rear cover) of most trade books. For existing books, the
ISBN will become one and the same with its Bookland EAN. However, when all numbers in a given
“978” block have been assigned, national ISBN agencies will begin assigning 13-digit ISBNs with a
“979” prefix to subsequent requests. This can result in two entirely different books having the same
nine-digit “core” of the ISBN, one with a “978” prefix and the other with a “979”, and with different
check digits. At that point, the current practice of scanning the Bookland EAN, stripping off the 978,
re-calculating the check digit and storing the resulting 10-digit ISBN in a database will produce the
same ten-digit ISBN for both books sharing the same nine-digit core. This practice will at that point
cease to be a viable solution.
Bookland EAN bar code:
 The Bookland EAN bar code will not change.
 It is hoped that all retailers, including general merchandise retailers currently unable to do so, will
be able to scan and store the Bookland EAN. If this is the case, it may no longer be necessary to
print the price point UPC bar code on cover 4 of mass market and some other titles . It would then
no longer be necessary to open to the inside front cover (cover 2) to find a Bookland EAN to scan.
 Still, the Book Industry Study Group has recommended that the Bookland EAN bar code continue
to be printed on cover 2 of books which may be stripped for returns purposes so that those covers
can be scanned.
 Some retailers prefer to scan the price add-on to the Bookland EAN bar code at point of sale to
ensure that the price printed on the book is the price rung up. For this reason, BISG has
recommended that the price add-on is to be retained.
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EAN/UCC-14:
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BISG has also recommended that the EAN/UCC-14 be the established standard in the book
industry for communication between trading partners. Thus in ordering, fulfillment, and invoicing
(though not at point of sale), the number used should be the thirteen-digit ISBN/Bookland EAN
prefaced by a leading packaging level indicator digit. For those retailers ordering only at the item
level (rather than in carton or larger quantities), a first digit of “0” indicates that the quantity
being ordered represents units. Prefixing the thirteen-digit ISBN with a leading zero will not
change that number’s check digit. For packaging levels above the unit level, the definition of the
leading indicators “1” through “8” is the responsibility of the originator of the packaging
(normally the publisher). The number of units in a carton may well vary from title to title. Thus
trading partners dealing in levels above the item level would need to store in their databases the
number of units in a carton for each title they carry. Those retailers who only ordering in units will
not need to do more than ensure that each ISBN/Bookland EAN included in an order or other
communication is prefaced by a leading zero. Since the identifier and bar code used at point of
sale will only contain thirteen digits, retailers who store only one identifier will have to decide
whether it is preferable to store the ISBN-13 and add a leading zero when communicating up the
supply chain or to store the EAN/UCC-14 and strip off the leading zero for point-of-sale
applications
How will the changes, especially to the ISBN, affect my computer system?
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The ISBN generally serves as the key to records within most bookstore systems. Thus it will be
necessary to ensure that, in all instances and applications in which the ISBN is used, the system
can accommodate the new thirteen-digit ISBN. You should be sure your computer systems
vendor is addressing these issues. Systems having a fixed length (i.e. ten character) field for
the ISBN will have to be upgraded. Similarly, the old BISAC fixed length formats for
electronic ordering and order acknowledgements will not accommodate the longer, revised
ISBN and will have to be replaced.
To accommodate these larger identifiers, book retailers (and their systems vendors) may well have
to expand fields in their databases and reports. If that is the case, the UCC and BISG recommend
expanding those fields to accommodate at least fourteen digits. Booksellers may eventually wish
to include in their title records other identifiers now coming on line such as the ISTC
(International Standard Textual Work Code) or the DOI (Digital Object Identifier), both of which
are of variable length. Technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), the possible
further expansion of the capability of the ISBN numbering system to include various versions of ebooks and excerpts of full works, and who knows what other changes in the future mean that it
cannot be assumed that identifiers for the book industry will not eventually have to expand beyond
fourteen digits. It is probably preferable to make a single change to a system now than to have to
repeat the process again in the future.
Areas in your system which should be reviewed for compatibility with the 13-digit ISBN include:
 Point of Sale (POS)
 Title Records and related data bases
 Order Processing
 Receiving
 Returns Processing
 Special Orders
 Order Fulfillment
In all these areas, you (or your systems vendor) should review instances where the ISBN is used in
 Screens
 Reports
 Forms exchanged with trading partners
 Electronic formats exchanged with trading partners
Why should I ensure that my system is compliant with these changes?
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13-digit ISBN: As noted above, once ISBNs with a 979 prefix are issued, the current practice of
scanning the 13-digit Bookland EAN but storing the 10-digit ISBN will no longer be viable. Systems
will have to be able not only to read, but also to store the full thirteen-digit ISBN. Communicating with
publishers, wholesalers, and others using the 10-digit ISBN will no longer be an option.
2005 Sunrise: 2005 Sunrise compliant retailers who deal with non-book products from outside (and
eventually from within) the US and Canada will be able to read and store the EAN/UCC-13 identifiers
with which those products are marked without having to create different “dummy” numbers and/or
over-sticker. They will also be able to order and process orders using the correct numbers.
GTIN: Full GTIN compliance, including the ability to deal with the EAN/UCC-14, will provide
benefits to those retailers and others who regularly order in carton or higher packaging lots. Publishers
and wholesalers may eventually insist on receiving orders using the full EAN/UCC-14.
When will I have to be ready for all this?
 A Period of transition. It is unlikely that the entire industry will make the switch from ten digits to
thirteen on some given day. Instead, there will be a period of transition during which some publishers
and wholesalers will have implemented thirteen-digits and others will not.
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Where do I need to be by January 1, 2005?
By this date, major general merchandise retailers such as WalMart will be ready to deal in thirteen and
may expect publishers and wholesalers to be ready as well. One large chain bookseller has indicated
that it plans to begin communicating in fourteen as of 1/1/05. Pressure from such large trading
partners may well convince publishers and wholesalers to be ready to deal in thirteen/fourteen by the
earlier date. Booksellers whose systems can now convert from the ten digit ISBN back to the thirteendigit Bookland EAN may find this a workable solution until 1/1/07. Also, it is unlikely that a publisher
or wholesaler will refuse an order using only the 10-digit ISBN, at least over the next few years. On
the other hand, a bookseller who transmits an order in 13/14 before the recipient publisher has made
the transition should not be surprised to see that order bounce back. Booksellers and their systems
vendors would be well advised to begin begin planning now, to begin testing new solutions no later
than a year ahead of the Jan.1, 2007 date and to have everything in place six months before the 2007
deadline
Where do I need to be by January 1, 2007? The revised thirteen-digit ISBN will not become a
standard until this date. No ‘979’ prefixes will be assigned until after this date. Thus systems which
now convert from the thirteen-digit Bookland EAN to the current ten-digit ISBN (and back again) can
get away with continuing to store only ten digits until 1/1/07. Some publishers have indicated that they
won’t (or would rather not) have their systems converted to thirteen until that date. Booksellers should
be able to scan, store, and process thirteen / fourteen by Jan 1, 2007 at the very latest.
What should I do during this transition period?
During the period when the industry is transitioning to 13 / 14, with some trading partners ready before
others are, a number of possible strategies suggest themselves.
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Store:
 10 digits and derive both 13 and 14 from the 10 digit #: Programs or routines which
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convert the ten-digit ISBN to the thirteen-digit Bookland EAN and the EAN/UCC-14 may help
booksellers get by while their systems undergo the final conversion to thirteen/fourteen. Likewise,
it may enable the use of all three numbers (ISBN-10, Bookland EAN/ISBN-13, and EAN/UCC14) simultaneously without the system’s having to store all three. But this will only be an option
until the first ‘979’ prefixes are assigned after 1/1/07.
Both 10 and 13 and derive 14: Booksellers who have the ability to store multiple identifiers
(e.g. a primary and a secondary SKU) for a given title, could do so, showing the 10-digit ISBN as
the primary identifier until a given trading partner switches to thirteen, and then switching the
primary identifier to thirteen for that trading partner. This will require monitoring the status of
each trading partner conversion efforts.
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All three (10, 13 & 14): Since 14 is not used at point of sale, but only in
communications up the supply chain, this is probably a solution only for retailers
expecting to place orders in carton quantities.
Transmit:
 All three identifiers (ISBN-10, Bookland EAN/ISBN-13 and EAN/UCC-14): It is very
likely that many trading partners will display both the ten-digit ISBN and the thirteen-digit
Bookland EAN/ISBN-13 (and possibly EAN/UCC-14) in their catalogs, reports, orders, invoices,
etc. for at least the next few years. Indeed, this solution is showing up already on some paper
documents. Whether all three identifiers are stored or one or more is derived from the others,
transmitting all three for each item ordered will allow the recipient to chose the identifier which it
is currently using. This solution is recommended by the Internet Commerce Committee of
BISAC/BISG in its EDI Implementation Guidelines. While this will require modifications of data
bases, screens, and reports. it may be the best way to adapt to a situation in which some vendors
are ready to deal in thirteen and others are not.
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Only the identifier which a given trading partner is using: This will require monitoring
the status of implementation of each trading partner. It is likely to work easily only if the retailer
can store both 10 and 13 (as primary and secondary SKUs) and “flip” the designation of primary
and secondary when a given trading partner changes
Where can I find further information?
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ISO Frequently Asked Questions about changes to the ISBN October 20, 2003
http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/iso/tc46sc9/isbn.htm
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ISO ISBN Web Page
http://www.nlc.bnc.ca/iso/tc46sc9/wg4.htm
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International ISBN Agency
http://www.isbn-international.org
International ISBN Agency - ISBN Implementation Guidelines:
http://www.isbn-international.org/revision.html
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BISG Policy Statement #001 Product Identification Policy September 18, 2003
http://www.bisg.org/docs/BISG_policy_001.pdf
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BISG EDI Implementation Guidelines: (This document is still in draft form and has not
yet been posted on the BISG web site. If it is ready by the time ABA runs this piece, the
URL should be included.)
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2005 Sunrise date for North American Companies: The Impact of GTIN on your
Systems March 3
http://www.eccc.org/Education/docs/Sunrise2005.pdf
http://www.eccc.org/Education/docs/Sunrise2005ExecutiveSummary.pdf