Using Bowker: ISBNs & Book Registration
Why You're Here
Since you’ve chosen to use your own ISBN, this is where you’ll obtain it.
Bowker is the official ISBN agency in the United States, and it’s where authors and publishers purchase and register their ISBNs.
This page covers both purchasing your ISBN and completing your book registration through Bowker.
Get Your ISBN
- Go to Bowker’s website (myidentifiers.com)
- Create an account
- Choose how many ISBNs you want to purchase
- Complete your purchase
💡 If you plan to publish multiple formats (paperback, hardcover, ebook), purchase enough ISBNs now to cover each version.
You can assign your ISBN to your book at any time, but it’s best to do so when your book details are finalized.
Barcodes (For Print Books)
If you’re publishing a print book, you’ll also need a barcode for your cover.
- Bowker can generate barcodes for your ISBN
- or you can generate one later
- each print format needs its own barcode
The barcode is placed on the back cover of your book and is required for retail distribution.
👉 Learn how to place your barcode on your cover HERE.
👉 Go to Bowker to purchase your ISBN(s):
This will open Bowker’s official ISBN purchasing and registration site in a new tab so you can follow along here.
Choosing Your Publisher Name
When you purchase your ISBN, Bowker will ask for a publisher name.
This name cannot easily be changed later, so choose something you’re comfortable using long-term.
This is the name that will appear as the publisher of your book.
This can be your personal name, or a publishing name you create (often called an imprint).
For example, I publish under Kramer Originals.
There’s no need to overthink this — many independent authors create a simple imprint name and use it consistently across their books.
Registering Your Book with Bowker
After purchasing your ISBN, Bowker allows you to register your book details.
You will be asked to enter:
- book title
- author name
- format (paperback, hardcover, ebook)
- publication date
- description
- pricing (optional for now)
⚠️ Only Complete Registration If Your Book Is Final
Before You Register Your Book Check For The Following:
Bowker will ask for details such as:
- final page count
- pricing
- book description (your hook)
- publication date