4. Principles and procedures
to be observed by publishers
numbering their own publications

4.1. Assignment of a publisher identifier

A publisher will be assigned a publisher identifier by the national or regional agency which will determine the range of item identifiers available to that publisher. The number of item identifiers will depend upon the length of the publisher identifier. The publisher should let the agency have as much information as possible about (1) the backlists of publications still available, (2) present, and (3) future publication programmes, in order for a suitable publisher identifier to be assigned. For publishers with more than one place of publication, see Chapter 6.12.

4.2. Authority

Publishers are responsible for assigning item identifiers to the individual items that they publish. It is recommended that an ISMN be assigned at the time a production schedule is fixed for the item concerned.

4.3. Responsibility

Publishers must designate a person to be in charge of the assignment of ISMNs and the application of the pertinent regulations.

4.4. Register

Every publisher must keep a register of ISMNs that have been assigned. The register should include the ISMN, author, title and format (where appropriate).

4.5. ISMN as a stock or edition number

Publishers may use or adapt the ISMN as stock or edition numbers. Publishers who may wish to retain previous stock or edition numbers in addition to the ISMN will need to be able to translate between the different numbering systems.