ISBN

$10.00

An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) uniquely identifies your book in catalogs and databases around the world. As part of our mission to support writers and their literary efforts, we offer a low-cost ISBN service, with a single ISBN priced $15 or less. Beginning July 2014, Amazon requires ISBN or EAN (also called ISBN-13) data for all listings for books published in 1973 or later.
Plan ahead: Please allow up to 10 business days for delivery of your ISBNs, since we will need to work with you to confirm content and imprint name requirements before we assign your numbers.

An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) uniquely identifies your book in catalogs and databases around the world.

Beginning July 2014,  Amazon   requires   ISBN  or EAN (also called  ISBN -13) data for all listings for books published in 1973 or later.

Which imprint option should I choose?

When you choose Empire & Great Jones Little Press we will be listed in databases and at retailers (including Amazon and B&N) as the publisher of record for your book. If you publish through CreateSpace or Amazon KDP, you'll enter "Empire & Great Jones Little Press" as the publisher name. More importantly, when you choose Empire & Great Jones Little Press, we'll request a confidential copy of the manuscript you're planning to publish. This requirement is firm, as it assures all authors who use this imprint that the books published in our name meet our standards of high-quality, broadly-accessible content.

Here's an example (from our Amazon listing for Spark: A Creative Anthology, Volume IV) showing how the publisher name will appear:

When you choose Custom Imprint Name , we'll ask you for your imprint name after your purchase is complete. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent booksellers, and other retailers and book databases will list your name (or the name of your small press) as the publisher of your book.

Do I actually need an ISBN?

Maybe not! Or, even if you need an ISBN, you may live in a country other than the United States where ISBNs are more easily available through you local ISBN administrator. 

Here are some great resources for learning about ISBNs and determining whether you need one:

The shortest version of the answer is: If you're only publishing in eBook format and will upload directly to distributors like Kindle, iBookstore, Nook Press, and Kobo, you don't really need an ISBN. If you will release your book in any print format, or both print and eBook, you'll need a unique number for each format. The fact that CreateSpace offers a "free ISBN" option but not a "no ISBN" option is a good indicator of the importance of an ISBN.

How does an ISBN from Empire & Great Jones compare to the CreateSpace options?

According to the CreateSpace ISBN page, the closest option to what we're offering is the Universal ISBN for $99 (or the "Provide Your Own ISBN" which costs as much as $125 when purchased directly from Bowker).

Option Price
CreateSpace-Assigned ISBN free
Pro: It's free!
Pro: Amazon takes care of marketing to libraries & universities.
Con: Publisher listed as "CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform," a clear flag that your work was self-published.
Con: You can't use this ISBN with any other printer or distributor; you're locked in to CreateSpace.
CreateSpace Custom ISBN $10
Pro: Low price.
Pro: You are listed as the publisher.
Con: You can't use this ISBN with any other printer or distributor.
Con: Amazon won't market your book to libraries & universities, even with the Expanded Distribution option selected.
CreateSpace Universal ISBN $99
Pro: You are listed as the publisher.
Pro: You can use this ISBN with any printer or distributor for maximum flexibility.
Pro: Save $26 compared to purchasing from Bowker directly.
Con: High price for a single ISBN.
Con: Amazon won't market your book to libraries & universities, even with the Expanded Distribution option selected.
ISBN with our E&GJ imprint $10
or less
Pro: Low price.
Pro: Publisher listed as "Empire & Great Jones Creative Arts Foundation."
Pro: You can use this ISBN with any printer or distributor for maximum flexibility.
Con: You are not listed as the publisher.
Con: Amazon won't market your book to libraries & universities, even with the Expanded Distribution option selected.
ISBN with your custom imprint $15
or less
Pro: Low price.
Pro: You are listed as the publisher.
Pro: You can use this ISBN with any printer or distributor for maximum flexibility.
Pro: Save $110 or more compared to purchasing from Bowker directly, and $84 or more compared to purchasing from Amazon.
Pro: Best of all worlds, especially for a small press.
Con: Amazon won't market your book to libraries & universities, even with the Expanded Distribution option selected.
Con: There's a slightly longer wait time while we add your imprint to our Bowker account and associate your ISBNs with your custom name.

Will you give me a barcode with my ISBN?

If you need a barcode for your ISBN, we recommend finding a free barcode generator—but if you have any trouble, just ask us and we'll help. While the ISBN itself requires a small fee for registration, barcodes generated from your number can be obtained free of cost.

Why are you offering this service?

As a small publisher who releases titles in both print and eBook formats, we definitely need ISBNs for our publications. We've been through the dilemma of whether to spend $25 per ISBN on a block of 10, or $1 per ISBN on a block of 1,000. Obviously, $1 per ISBN makes more sense, but we don't actually need that many numbers right now.

The current pricing structure for ISBNs works well for larger organizations, but it can be prohibitive to small publishers and independent authors—the very people we support as a non-profit. Using our volume purchasing power to buy a block of 100 or 1,000 numbers, then reserving enough for our titles and passing the savings on to you for the remaining numbers, we recoup our necessary cost and provide a benefit to small publishers and independent authors.

Important Notes:

  • We recommend contacting us prior to purchasing an ISBN with a quick description of your book and which imprint name you plan to use. This will verify that we can meet your needs and that your intended use meets our standards, and will expedite processing of your order once it's placed.
  • If you have not contacted us before your purchase, we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss your book or small press and preferred imprint name.
  • To comply with Bowker's ISBN terms of use, you agree that the Empire & Great Jones Creative Arts Foundation is a benevolent and non-interfering parent organization (and not a third party) in relation to ISBNs purchased through this program.
  • Even if you select Custom Imprint Name and we assign the ISBNs to you or your press, a deep search of the ISBN will eventually lead to Empire & Great Jones Creative Arts Foundation.
  • Because we are putting our name behind you, we strongly recommend investing in professional editing services before publishing with ISBNs purchased through this program.
  • You cannot use the Empire & Great Jones Little Press imprint to publish erotica; that imprint already includes titles targeted at middle-grade readers. You must select "Custom Imprint Name" if you plan to publish erotica. We reserve the right to revoke the ISBN and refund your payment if you attempt to publish erotica under the Empire & Great Jones Little Press imprint.
  • Direct questions regarding ISBN purchases to isbn@sparkanthology.org.