ISBN-13

LexisNexis and ISBN-13

In common with the rest of the world-wide book trade, LexisNexis is preparing for the 13-digit ISBN. The ISBN is the most successful global product identifier and its success means that there are insufficient numbers left of the current 10-digit ISBN to support publishing in all its formats in the 21st century. The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has extended the number of digits from 10 to 13: every 10-digit ISBN has an equivalent 13-digit ISBN (known as ISBN-13).

All ISBNs, both newly issued ones and those already in circulation, will be converted to the new format by 1 January 2007, when 13-digit ISBNs only will be used by the book trade. LexisNexis has been working hard to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for our customers and suppliers throughout 2006 and we are now pleased to report that all of our systems have been updated and we are now ISBN-13 compliant.

Our online catalogue at www.lexisnexis.co.uk now displays 13-digit ISBNs for each book product. You can still search using the old 10-digit ISBN (all searches will return 13-digit ISBNs) and we can currently accept and process both 10-digit and 13-digit ISBN orders. However in alignment with the rest of the book trade, we will be moving to 13-digit ISBNs only from January 2007.

The LexisNexis 2007-08 catalogue will be available by the end of January 2007 and will contain 13-digit ISBNs for all book products.

If you have any queries about LexisNexis' plans for ISBN-13, please contact the ISBN-13 project sponsors Caroline Bailey or Katrina Crossley.