Did you know that the University of Northampton is registered as a publisher for the purposes of allocating ISBNs to monographs produced by members of the University?

Some of the books we have published include:

• From Priory Cottage to Park Campus: The story of occupational therapy education in Northampton by Jane Evans
• Look at me and Smile: Short stories and personal reflections from patients, service users and carers by Linda Lilley and Sue Allen
• Love British Books 2013 by Paul Middleton and Carolyn Puzzovio
• Winter growing fields: landscape and estrangement by Andrew Langford

Read on to find out how you can apply for an ISBN for your work.

What is an ISBN?

An ISBN is an International Standard Book Number. Each ISBN now comprises 13 characters and uniquely identifies a publication.

Does my work qualify for an ISBN?

The following products qualify for an ISBN:

• Monographic works (books) that are textual and/or have an instructional content.
• CD-ROMS, spoken word cassettes, videos and electronic books that have a textual and/or instructional content, i.e. not purely for entertainment.
• Journals published no more frequently than once a year (journals published more frequently qualify for an ISSN).
• Sets of volumes or packs of books, CD-ROMS, videos or spoken word cassettes with a textual and/or instructional content.

There is no legal obligation for an item to have an ISBN, but if you wish your work to be made available commercially via booksellers or bibliographic databases then an ISBN may be necessary.

How do I get an ISBN?

The University of Northampton is registered as a publisher with the ISBN Agency. We have been allocated a block of ISBNs for use by university members. If you wish to apply for one of these numbers then please follow the checklist below.

Checklist for publication using a University of Northampton ISBN

• Produce a qualifying piece of work (see above).
• Ensure that you have the support (in writing) of your Dean or Head of Service for the use of a University ISBN for your publication.
• Ensure that you have sought and received necessary third party copyright permissions (in writing).
• The ISBN Agency will require details of your publication. Complete the Nielsen BookData Title Information Form and return it to nectar@northampton.ac.uk in Library and Learning Services (not to Neilsen as stated on the form).
• A new ISBN will be allocated to your work.
• The ISBN should appear on the reverse of the title page and on the outside back cover. If the book has a dust jacket the ISBN should appear on the back of this too. If the publication is not a book (i.e. CD, DVD etc) the ISBN should appear on the product and on any packaging.
• On publication please send two copies of your work to the NECTAR team- one will be sent to the British Library (there is a legal mandate to do this within one month of publication and further copies may be requested later by the five other legal deposit libraries). The second copy will be put in the University of Northampton library.
• Notify the NECTAR team of any distribution arrangements for the publication (this is to ensure that when a request for the work is received it can be directed to the appropriate person).
• Submit an electronic copy to NECTAR (the NECTAR team can help with this).

Further information

If you have any questions about applying for an ISBN please contact nectar@northampton.ac.uk.