ISBN

Verify all ISBNs in the record, either from the item itself, from Books in Print, or from some other source. Delete or move to ‡z any ISBNs in the record that are not valid for versions of that item.

In general, the first ISBN that has a match in the Syndetics database will control which cover, summary, reviews, etc. display in the OPAC.

Add the current ISBN to serial records that are intended to be kept for a finite period, or those for which a new edition replaces a previous edition. Do not do this for long-running serial titles that are intended to be kept forever, such as Contemporary Authors.

ISBN qualifiers

For sets and kits, all ISBNs should be qualified with "(set)," "(kit)", "(book)", "(CD)", "(v. 1)" or other such designation of a particular part in ‡q. A set or kit ISBN, when present, should always be the first ISBN for a set or kit record. An ISBN for a specific volume, when present, should always be the first ISBN when each volume is cataloged on a separate record.

When adding an ISBN for an item with only minor differences from the record, code the item’s ISBN in 020 ‡a, and add a parenthetical qualifier to the ISBN in ‡q. If the publisher is different, include the publisher in the qualifier. Separate multiple elements in the qualifier with space semicolon space. ISBN qualifiers may be abbreviated in RDA-format records, or they can be spelled out. Examples include (but are not limited to):

(pbk.)

(paperback)

(lib. bdg.)

(Econo-Clad)

(Turtleback) [Note: do NOT use (tbk.) for Turtleback bindings]

(pbk. ; Scholastic)

(v. 3 ; Sagebrush)

The exact wording of a qualifier is left to cataloger's judgment, except regarding Turtlebacks, spelling out terms under RDA, and punctuation.

Optionally, include a 500 note or add to an existing similar 500 note describing this facet of the publication history and the added ISBN. For example "Also published in paperback by Scholastic with ISBN: …"

Always use proper ISBD punctuation for these qualifiers, even when it is not present in a WorldCat master record.

020  9780060799748‡q(hardcover ;‡qalkaline paper)

020  9781234567890‡q(Hachette)
020  9780987654321‡q(Brilliance)

020  9781234567890
020  9780987654321‡q(paperback)

020  9781234567890‡q(set)
020  9780987654321‡q(book)
020  9786789012345‡q(CD)

020  9781234567890‡q(paperback)
020  9780987654321‡q(Paw Prints)

Price

Do not enter a price in the 020 field of a bibliographic record. If already present, it is cataloger’s judgment to retain or delete. Use the individual item record to record price information.

Exception: Locally, prices may be added in 020 fields when adding price information in the item record is not feasible, as for the components of a multi-format kit.

10-digit vs. 13-digit ISBNs

Please use 13-digit ISBNs for searching, inputting and preliminary data records unless a 10-digit ISBN is the only one available. Be sure your scanners are programmed to properly treat 13-digit ISBNs as 13-digit ISBNs rather than converting them to 10-digit ISBNs.

For items published after 2010, if a 10-digit ISBN is present on a record that also has the equivalent 13-digit ISBN, it can be left on the record. If a 10-digit ISBN is not present, one does not have to be added.

For items published before 2010, if a 10-digit ISBN is present on a record that also has the equivalent 13-digit ISBN, it must be left on the record. If a 10-digit ISBN is not present, it is recommended but not required to add one if the 13-digit ISBN starts with "978". (If the 13-digit ISBN starts with "979", then there is no 10-digit equivalent, so there is nothing to add.)

Order of ISBNs for volumes/editions

For multivolume monograph records, ISBNs should be added to the top of the record with the newest ISBN last.

Justice League:
020  9781401234614‡q(v. 1)
020  9781401237646‡q(v. 2)
020  9781401242404‡q(v. 3)

For serial records, the ISBNs should be added to the top of the record with the newest ISBN first. (We would prefer ISBNs for serial editions/issues to be located at the end of the record, but whenever the database is copied and reloaded, the system rearranges the tags in numeric order.)

Fodor's Rome:
020  9780804142632‡q(10th edition ;‡q2015)
020  9780307929358‡q(9th edition ;‡q2013)
020  9781400004447‡q(8th edition ;‡q2010)

Reused ISBNs

In general, the same ISBN should never be found in 020 ‡a of two records in our database. When a publisher reuses an ISBN on an item that requires a separate record (whether because it is completely different and was accidentally reused, or because it underwent a major change such as a change in title but the publisher intentionally continued using the same ISBN for later printings), the ISBN for the item published later should be in 020 ‡z.

However, if a book is published both separately and as part of a set or kit, the book ISBN can be in 020 ‡a of both records, because both truly refer to that specific edition.

If, due to previous cataloging practices or a cataloging mistake, the same ISBN is already found in an 020 ‡a of an existing record, then check whether that ISBN legitimately applies to that record. If the ISBN does not legitimately apply to that record (for example, an ISBN for a "2nd ed." in a record that says "1st ed.") remove it from that record.

Deleting ISBNs

You do not have to delete ISBNs for which CCS has no holdings, but you are encouraged to do so, especially in cases where each volume is intended to replace the previous one, as then there is very little likelihood that anyone in CCS will ever order that version or volume or receive it as a donation.

Always delete ISBNs that refer to other formats that aren't otherwise part of the record in hand, such as:

• E-book ISBNs on the record for the print version
• Print version ISBNs on e-book records
• Large print ISBNs on regular print records
• Regular print ISBNs on large print records.

However, retain ISBNs that refer to formats that are included in the record in hand, such as the ISBN for the book of a book + CD kit or for other versions that do not warrant a separate record according to our rules for when to create a new record.