ISBNs — What, Where, When, & Why

What?International Standard Book Number (ISBN)noun. A unique, internationally used number code assigned to books for the purposes of identification and inventory control.Where?

As suggested by the title, ISBNs are numbers that are recognized internationally. These numbers are assigned to books by their publisher. The publisher purchases these numbers (often in bulk) from designated national standard book numbering agencies. Examples of these agencies include

Bowker in the United States Niel...