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government</a></li> </ol> </div> </div> </nav> </header> <main role="main" property="mainContentOfPage" class="container"> <h1 property="name" id="wb-cont" class="mrgn-tp-md">Apply for an International Standard Book Number and catalogue number</h1><div class="row"> <section class="col-md-8"> <p>From <a href="/site/eng/home.html">Government of Canada Publications</a></p> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-2"> <a href="/site/eng/isbn/apply.html" class="btn btn-primary">Apply</a> </div> </div> <h2>On this page</h2> <ul> <li><a href="#details-panel1">How to get started</a></li> <li><a href="#details-panel2">More information about this service</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="details-panel1">How to get started</h2> <p>Government of Canada Publications assigns International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) to book-like government publications, including to podcasts and to videos with substantive informational content. Internationally recognized, publishers, booksellers, and libraries around the world use <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr> to identify, track, and manage publications.</p> <p>We also assign catalogue numbers to most government publications.</p> <h3>Who is eligible for this service</h3> <p>Most federal departments and agencies require <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr>s and catalogue numbers to identify their book or book-like publications. For more information on Government of Canada publishing requirements, refer to:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=27167">Procedures for publishing</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=30683">Policy on Communications and Federal Identity</a></li> </ul> <h3>Who is ineligible for this service </h3> <p>If you are a Canadian publisher looking to obtain an <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr>, visit <a href="https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/publishers/isbn/Pages/isbn.aspx"><abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr> Canada.</a></p> <p>If you are a Canadian publisher with a French-only publication, contact <span lang="fr">Biblioth猫que et Archives nationales du Qu茅bec</span> at <a href="mailto:isbn@banq.qc.ca">isbn@banq.qc.ca</a>.</p> <h3>Serial or periodical publications</h3> <p>If you publish a product with the same title in successive issues and at regular intervals, you are publishing a serial or periodical. These publications need an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN). </p> <p>If you publish a serial or periodical less frequently than every 3 years, you need an <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr> and a catalogue number.</p> <a href="https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/publishers/issn/Pages/issn.aspx">Request an <abbr title="International Standard Serial Number">ISSN</abbr> from <abbr title="International Standard Serial Number">ISSN</abbr> Canada</a> <h3>Government publications that require an International Standard Book Number and catalogue number </h3> <p>Different formats and editions of publications are assigned unique <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr>s and catalogue numbers. For example, a publication issued in print, PDF and DVD would have a distinct <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr> and catalogue number for each format. Each language edition also gets a unique publication number (for example, distinct numbers for English, French and Spanish versions). New editions and major revisions also warrant distinct <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr>s and catalogue number.</p> <p>Examples of publications that require an <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr> and catalogue number:</p> <ul> <li>corporate reports that are issued less frequently than every 3 years</li> <li>research reports, audit reports, working group reports, investigatory reports and other types of report</li> <li>pamphlets, manuals, brochures and fact sheets of educational and/or informational purposes</li> <li>agreements, treaties, international conventions and protocols</li> <li>topographical maps</li> <li>policy documents, planning documents, conference proceedings, regulations</li> </ul> </section> <aside class="col-md-4"> <div class="well"> <h3 class="mrgn-tp-0 h2">Guides and help</h3> <ul class="lst-spcd"> <li><a href="/site/eng/services/aboutCatalogueNumber.html">About the Government of Canada catalogue number</a></li> <li><a href="/site/eng/services/positionISBN.html">Where to position the <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr> and catalogue number</a></li> <li><a href="https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/publishers/issn/pages/about.aspx">About <abbr title="International Standard Serial Number">ISSN</abbr></a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="well"> <h3 class="mrgn-tp-0 h2">Related links</h3> <ul> <li><a href="/site/eng/services/aboutCatalogueNumber.html">About the Government of Canada catalogue number</a></li> <li><a href="/site/eng/services/positionISBN.html">Where to position the <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr> and catalogue number</a></li> <li><a href="https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/publishers/issn/pages/obtain.aspx">Request an <abbr title="International Standard Serial Number">ISSN</abbr> from <abbr title="International Standard Serial Number">ISSN</abbr> Canada</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="well"> <h3 class="mrgn-tp-0 h2">Contact us</h3> <a href="/site/eng/contact/contactUs.html">Contact Government of Canada Publications</a> </div> </aside> <section class="col-md-8"> <h2 id="details-panel2">More information about this service</h2> <p>The <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr> identifies a monographic publication, book or book-like product that is complete in one part or intended to be completed within a finite number of parts. <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr>s were once 10 digits in length, but since January 1, 2007, they consist of 13 digits.</p> <p>Every time there is a change in format or a change in edition, you need to apply for a new <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr>. Each different e-book format (EPUB, MOBI, Kobo and PDF) also requires a distinct <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr>.</p> <p>A Government of Canada catalogue number is a unique number that identifies publications produced by the federal government. Reprinted publications do not need a new catalogue number. However, new editions and revised publications require new catalogue numbers.</p> <p>We do not assign <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr>s or catalogue numbers to HTML or XML publications.</p> </section> </div><div class="row pagedetails"> <div class="clear visible-xs"></div> <div class="col-md-6 col-sm-6 col-lg-4 mrgn-tp-sm"> <a class="btn btn-default btn-block" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/report-problem">Report a problem or mistake on this page</a> </div> <div class="clear visible-xs"></div> <div class="col-xs-12 datemod"> <dl id="wb-dtmd"> <dt>Date modified: </dt> <dd><time property="dateModified">2022-11-18</time></dd> </dl> </div> </div> </main>  <footer role="contentinfo" id="wb-info"> <nav class="container visible-sm visible-md visible-lg wb-navcurr" role="navigation"> <h2 class="wb-inv">About this site</h2> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-10 col-lg-10"> <section> <ul class="list-unstyled colcount-sm-2 colcount-md-3"> <li><a 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