The Author’s Complete Guide to ISBNs, Barcodes, and Copyright

When you’re writing a book, the creative work gets all the attention. But when you’re publishing a book, a set of administrative and legal essentials quietly determines whether your book can be sold in bookstores, found in library catalogs, and protected from unauthorized use. ISBNs, barcodes, and copyright registration are three of the most misunderstood elements of the publishing process. This guide breaks down everything you need to know.

What Is an ISBN?

An ISBN—International Standard Book Number—is a unique 13-digit identifier assigned to a specific edition of a book. Think of it as your book’s fingerprint in the global publishing system.

Every distinct format of your book—hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook—should have its own ISBN. A revised edition also gets a new ISBN. The ISBN makes it possible for booksellers, libraries, distributors, and databases worldwide to identify, order, and track your specific book edition.

Do You Need an ISBN?

It depends on where and how you’re selling:

• Amazon Kindle (ebook only): Not required. Amazon assigns its own ASIN identifier.
• KDP Print (print-on-demand): Amazon offers a free ISBN, but books with free KDP ISBNs can only be sold on Amazon and cannot be distributed to other retailers or libraries.
• Wide distribution (Barnes & Noble, bookstores, libraries, IngramSpark): You need your own ISBN. Required.
• Traditionally published: Your publisher handles it. You don’t need to do anything.

If you have any ambition to sell beyond Amazon—and you should—purchase your own ISBN.

How to Get an ISBN

In the United States, ISBNs are sold exclusively through Bowker at myidentifiers.com. Pricing as of recent rates:

• Single ISBN: $125
• 10 ISBNs: $295
• 100 ISBNs: $575

If you plan to publish multiple books or multiple formats of one book, the 10-pack is usually the best value. The ISBNs are yours permanently and don’t expire.

In other countries, ISBNs are managed by national agencies. Canadian authors, for example, can get ISBNs for free through Library and Archives Canada. Check your country’s ISBN agency if you’re outside the US.

When you register your ISBN, you’ll be listed as the publisher of record—which matters if you want to appear as a legitimate publishing entity in industry databases like Books In Print.

Free ISBNs: The Trade-Off

Several platforms offer free ISBNs—Amazon KDP, Draft2Digital, and others. The trade-off is always control. When you use a platform’s free ISBN, that platform is technically listed as your publisher. This limits your ability to distribute through other channels and can look less professional in industry contexts. If you’re serious about your book as a long-term asset, own your ISBNs.

What Is a Barcode and Do You Need One?

The barcode on the back of a print book is a visual representation of the ISBN—a Bookland EAN barcode that encodes the ISBN in a scannable format. It’s what cashiers scan at bookstores and what receiving systems use in warehouses.

If you’re selling print books anywhere that uses a point-of-sale system—bookstores, gift shops, events, and anywhere you’re not selling direct (where you control the checkout)—your book needs a barcode.

The Price Bar

Barcodes for books typically include a five-digit supplemental barcode next to the ISBN barcode that encodes the book’s price. The format is: the number 5, followed by the price in cents. A $16.99 book would encode as 51699. If you don’t want to lock in a price (useful if you plan to adjust pricing), you can use 90000 as a placeholder.

Where to Get a Barcode

Bowker generates barcodes when you register your ISBN. Most professional cover designers can create the barcode as part of your cover design. IngramSpark and similar services also generate barcodes automatically when you upload your book files. You don’t need to purchase a barcode separately if your printer or distributor provides one.

Copyright: What It Is and Why It Matters

Here’s the good news: your book is automatically protected by copyright the moment you write it. Under US copyright law, copyright exists from the moment an original work is fixed in tangible form—which means the moment you save your manuscript file. You don’t have to register it. You don’t have to publish it. You don’t have to mail a copy to yourself in a sealed envelope (that’s a myth).

Copyright protects your book for your lifetime plus 70 years. It gives you the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, and publicly perform or display your work.

Should You Register Your Copyright?

While copyright exists automatically, registration with the US Copyright Office offers important legal advantages:

• Legal standing to sue: You must have a registered copyright to file an infringement lawsuit in federal court.
• Statutory damages: If your copyright is registered before infringement occurs, you may be eligible for statutory damages (up to $150,000 per work for willful infringement) rather than being limited to actual damages, which can be difficult to prove.
• Public record: Registration creates a public record of your ownership, which can be useful in licensing and rights negotiations.

The cost is minimal: $45–65 online for a single work. For most authors, registration is worth it. According to Jane Friedman’s comprehensive copyright guide for authors, registering within three months of publication preserves all your legal remedies against infringers.

How to Register

File online at copyright.gov. You’ll need to create an account, complete the registration form, pay the fee, and upload or mail a copy of your work (called a deposit). Processing times vary but are typically 3–12 months for simple registrations.

The Copyright Page

Every published book should include a copyright page—typically the back of the title page. A standard copyright page includes:

• The copyright symbol (©), year of first publication, and your name
• A statement of rights reserved (“All rights reserved” or similar)
• The ISBN(s)
• Publisher information (your imprint or company name if applicable)
• A disclaimer if relevant (for fiction, that characters are fictional; for nonfiction, any necessary legal disclaimers)
• Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) if you’ve applied for one

Many book formatting guides and templates include a standard copyright page layout you can adapt.

Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN)

The LCCN is different from an ISBN but equally important for library distribution. Libraries use the LCCN to catalog books in their systems. Applying for an LCCN is free and straightforward through the Library of Congress Preassigned Control Number (PCN) program. You must apply before your book is published, and you must send a complimentary copy of the final book to the Library of Congress after publication.

If you want your book in library catalogs across the country, apply for an LCCN early in your production process.

Putting It All Together

Here’s a simple pre-publication administrative checklist:

• ☐ Purchase ISBNs for each format (paperback, hardcover, ebook, audiobook)
• ☐ Register your copyright at copyright.gov
• ☐ Apply for an LCCN if pursuing library distribution
• ☐ Include a properly formatted copyright page in your book interior
• ☐ Ensure your barcode is included on the back cover of any print edition
• ☐ Register your book in Bowker’s Books In Print database

Getting these administrative details right is what separates a professional publication from an amateur one. Librarians, booksellers, and industry buyers notice. And while these details don’t make your book better, they determine whether it can reach its full distribution potential.

Your Book Deserves Professional Treatment at Every Level

ISBNs, barcodes, and copyright registration are the infrastructure your book runs on. But distribution infrastructure alone doesn’t sell books. Once your administrative details are sorted, the work of building reader trust begins—and nothing builds that trust faster than credible social proof.

A professional book review is one of the most powerful pieces of credibility you can put in front of librarians, booksellers, and readers. Order a professional book review from Accessory to Success and give your book the expert validation it deserves at launch.

For more on preparing your book for publication and building your author platform, explore our full resource library.