ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a system of identification used to keep track of and locate books and, if you are in a bookstore, you will notice that every book has an ISBN.

If you want your readers to be able to find your books, especially if they are doing a search of the Books In Print library, they will need this number. Booksellers are hesitant to sell your books if you do not use the ISBN system and your sales will suffer.

Every edition you publish should have a seperate ISBN, even if the titles are the same. Hardcover, audio and soft cover are all numbered differently and if you decide to change the cover of your book or significantly alter the text, then this, too, should have a new ISBN assigned.

The cost of the ISBN numbers are sold in blocks of ten for $205. For more information about the need for ISBN and to purchase, contact R. R. Bowker, 121 Chanlon Road, New Providence, New Jersey 07974, phone 1-908-665-6770.

In Canada, contact the National Library Of Canada, 395 Wellington St., Ottawa, Ontario, phone 1-800-994-6872, Fax 1-819-997-75l7.

For internet download, go to the website www.about.com/arts/publishing/library/weekly/aa062797.htm?rnk=r2+terms=ISBN+numbers.

(Reprinted with author's permission from the Kansas Writer's Newsletter, Sept. 2000.)