National Library of Australia  - Gateways

ISSN 1443-0568 | no. 72 | December 2004


Kinetica Supports New 13 Digit ISBN

Kinetica is making changes to enable the input, output and searching of 13-digit ISBNs. Records containing the new format ISBNs can already be loaded to, and searched, in the Kinetica system. A patch for the Kinetica Cataloguing Client will be made available in early December which will enable cataloguers to input the new format ISBNs online.

Since its inception in 1970, the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) (ISO Standard 2108) has been adopted internationally as the identification system for the book trade and publishing industry, and provides key functionality for ordering and inventory. Among other purposes, it is also widely used in libraries as a reliable and efficient method of searching for items.

The ISBN standard has now been revised and will be published early in 2005. The revised standard introduces a new format for ISBNs, increasing the length of the ISBN from 10 to 13 digits. Replacement will be gradual, with the first 13 digit ISBNs making their appearance on United States publications in October 2004.

More information on the new 13 digit ISBNs can be found on the International ISBN Agency Website at: <http://www.isbn-international.org/en/download/implementation-guidelines-04.pdf>.
—Margaret Kennedy, Acting Director, Kinetica Database Services

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