Bowker (MyIdentifiers)

Bowker is the only authorized source for ISBNs in the United States, operating through its consumer portal MyIdentifiers.com. An ISBN purchased directly from Bowker names the author's own publishing imprint—not a platform—as the publisher of record in Bowker's Books In Print database and in library catalogs worldwide.

What You Get#

• ISBN: A 13-digit identifier required for distribution through major retailers and libraries. Each format (paperback, hardcover, ebook, audiobook) requires a separate ISBN. ISBNs never expire.
• Barcodes: Machine-readable barcodes for print books, required by major retailers for shelf and point-of-sale scanning. Available separately or bundled with ISBN packages.
• Books In Print listing: ISBN registration automatically adds your title to Bowker's industry catalog, the global standard used by retailers and libraries to discover and order books.
• SAN (Standard Address Number): Optional identifier for publishers transacting with wholesalers like Ingram or Baker & Taylor.
• Metadata management: The MyIdentifiers dashboard lets you submit and update title metadata (description, BISAC categories, author info) linked to your ISBNs.

Who It's For#

• Authors building their own publishing imprint: Owning your ISBNs means Bowker lists your imprint name—not Amazon KDP or Draft2Digital—as publisher of record across all industry databases.
• Prolific authors and small publishers: The 10-pack ($295, $29.50 per ISBN) offers significant savings over individual purchases and covers multiple formats for a single title or a small catalog.

Pricing: Single ISBN $125; 10-pack $295 ($29.50 each); 100-pack $575 ($5.75 each); 1,000-pack $1,500 ($1.50 each). ISBN + barcode bundles start at $150 (1 ISBN + 1 barcode). ISBNs never expire and can be used any time after purchase.

Strengths#

• Only legitimate U.S. source: Bowker holds the exclusive license as the U.S. ISBN Agency. Third-party resellers advertising "cheap ISBNs" are not authorized and carry risk of invalid or already-assigned identifiers.
• Imprint control: Your author brand or publishing company name appears as the publisher in Books In Print, library catalogs, and retail metadata—a meaningful professional distinction for authors building a long-term publishing business.
• Books In Print inclusion: Bowker's catalog is used by bookstores and libraries worldwide to discover titles. Registration ensures your books appear when buyers search by subject, author, or publisher.

Limitations#

• Cost per single ISBN: At $125 for one ISBN, Bowker's pricing is steep compared to free ISBNs offered by KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital. Free platform ISBNs work for most authors distributing exclusively through that platform and unconcerned with imprint identity.
• U.S. only: Bowker issues U.S. ISBNs only. Authors in Canada, UK, Australia, and other countries must apply through their national ISBN agency.
• Barcodes sold separately: Print barcodes require an additional purchase; they are not included with the base ISBN cost.
• No global ISBN authority: Even with a Bowker ISBN, your book still requires country-specific distributor registration in each market.

Alternatives#

Free ISBNs from Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital are practical for authors distributing through a single platform and not concerned with publisher-of-record identity. Authors building a multi-title catalog under their own imprint will find the 10-pack ($295) the most cost-effective entry point.