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CDDB-like Database for ISBN?

Posted by Cliff on from the if-it-works-for-CDs-why-not-books dept.

ElJefe asks: "I'm currently working on a project that will let students at my school buy and sell used textbooks from other students. For the site, I'd like to be able to enter an ISBN number, and have that bring up all relevant information (author, title, etc.). Basically, I'm looking for something analagous to CDDB or freedb, but for books instead of music. Does such a thing already exists? Are there copyright issues with creating such a database?" ISBN is an acronym for 'International Standard Book Number'.

1 of 21 comments (clear)

  1. Uh, you can search ISBNs in a bunch of places... by Vito · · Score: 3


    Remember, kids: Google is your friend. Try there before you Ask Slashdot.

    First, there's ISBN.nu. It's actually a really sweet portal/price comparison site, and it only searches ISBNs through the bookstores it's affiliated with (not all ISBNs in general), but it's a neat trick. :)

    Now, following the "About ISBN" link takes you to R. R. Bowker, which is the agency that assigns ISBN numbers in the US (not in other countries! Other agencies do that!).

    Now, since they assign the ISBN numbers, they'd be in a great position to produce the Books in Print and Books Out-of-Print series of reference books, wouldn't they? And, lo and behold, they do!

    Bowker's Books in Print website allows you to search all the ISBN numbers of books currently in print -- for a fee. That's right, it's not free, although there is a free trial available. Annual subscription rates range from US$1850 for single site/single user/no reviews, to US$3375 for single site/multiple user/with reviews.

    Bowker also has their Books Out-of-Print site online. It's also non-free, with single-user subscriptions ranging from US$29 for one week of unlimited searching to US$699 for one year of unlimited searching.

    --Vito