Visit the ISBN Web site (see References) to get an ISBN. There you will also find price listings. The numbers are available for purchase in blocks of 10, 100 and 1,000. If you require only a single ISBN, they are offered from the My Identifiers Web site (see References).
Click the ISBN US tab at the top of the ISBN Web site if you are publishing within the United States. If you are publishing outside the U.S., click the ISBN Int'l tab, then click the link for ISBN Group Agencies. You will be taken to the International ISBN Agency Web site (see Resources), where you will be required to select your national agency and apply directly through them. (Select "International Agency," then click the link for "National Agency.")
Click the link "Application for an ISBN Publisher Prefix," then select the appropriate link to apply for the ISBN. Options are to apply for a single ISBN, to apply as a new publisher for a block of ISBNs, or to re-apply for more ISBNs. You may also choose to submit a print application.
Go to the Bowker Bar Code Web site (see References) to purchase a bar code or a bar code and ISBN at the same time. Click the "Order Bar Codes" link to be taken to the application for publishers who have existing ISBN prefixes. If you have never purchased an ISBN before, clicking the appropriate link will redirect you to the ISBN Web site, where you will be required to apply for a new publisher prefix (see steps 1 through 3).
Fill out the bar code application. ISBN/bar codes may be purchased singly or in blocks of up to 20. To purchase more than 20, e-mail [email protected].