Would you like to sell books or e-books on your e-commerce site?
Whether in electronic or paper format, books need an isbn code to be marketed.
Find out what an isbn code is and how to generate one.
What are ISBN and barcodes?
The ISBN, or International Standard Book Number, is a 13-digit international code associated with a published book, enabling it to be identified.
This code is recorded in a computer system, making it easy to find a book.
Booksellers use it to manage their orders.
An isbn code is unique and specific to a book:
- If you publish your book in different formats (paperback, hardcover, paperback, e-book, etc.), you must assign an isbn for each version.
- Minor changes to the content of your book do not affect the isbn code.
- Larger modifications or republication should lead to a change of isbn.
- If you plan to publish your ebook in different formats (epub, etc.), you must have a different isbn for each format.
If you want to publish your book and make it accessible to the general public, you need an isbn code and a barcode.
Both must appear on the back cover of your book. NB: barcodes are not mandatory for ebooks. However, please note that in the case of self-publishing, if the author promotes his or her book on his or her own, the isbn number is not mandatory.
As a result, the author does not have to sell his book in bookshops or on platforms.
How do I generate an ISBN code?
Visit the AFNIL website (Agence Francophone pour la numérotation Internationale du Livre).
This is the organization in charge of issuing isbn codes in France.
You’ll need to fill in an application form according to your profile, then proceed to online payment.
A special form is dedicated to self-publishers.
The processing time is three weeks and allows you to obtain a personal isbn or e-isbn.
If you plan to publish your books in different formats, remember to tick “production prévisionnelle” instead of “titre unique”.
This allows you to obtain several isbn codes in advance.
For a book in paper format, remember to apply for your isbn before printing, as the code will be displayed on it.
For an e-book, get your isbn before you go to market.
How do I generate an EAN barcode?
For books in paper format, it is mandatory to display an EAN barcode on the spine.
The EAN barcode corresponding to your isbn, also known as GENCODE, can be obtained online using a free barcode generator.
Some websites offer to do this for you, also free of charge.
Please note that AFNIL does not make the EAN barcode image mandatory. PS: The EAN code is the same as the ISBN code, but without the hyphens. Ready to publish your book on your e-commerce site?
Remember to check that you’ve filled in all the required information, as well as the isbn and barcode.
