Issuance of ISBN – knls.ac.ke

As the Kenya National Library Service, our role encompasses the assignment of International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) to Kenyan publishers, establishing our institution as the national agency for the International Standard Book Numbering system. Recognized in over 160 countries globally, the ISBN serves as a concise and potentially machine-readable identifier crucial for uniquely cataloging monographic publications. This identification process begins in the early stages of production and plays a pivotal role in various aspects of the book trade, including production, distribution, sales analysis, and bibliographic data storage systems. The ISBN is equally essential for effective library information management. Our responsibility extends to assigning ISBNs to diverse monographic publications and related products, whether available for free or purchase. This includes printed books, Braille publications, non-continuously updated or indefinitely continued publications, individual articles or issues of continuing resources, maps, educational materials, audiobooks, electronic publications, digitized copies, microform publications, educational software, and mixed media publications. By adhering to international standards, the Kenya National Library Service ensures the accurate and distinct identification of various forms of publications, contributing to the preservation and accessibility of Kenya’s literary heritage.

Publications eligible for ISBN

Examples of monographic publications to which an ISBN may be assigned include:

Printed books and pamphlets
Braille publications
Publications not intended to be updated regularly or continued indefinitely
Individual articles or issues of a continuing resource, where made available separately
Maps
Educational or instructional films, videos and transparencies

Audiobooks on cassette, CD or DVD
Electronic publications on physical carriers or on the Internet
Digitized copies of print monographic publications
Microform publications
Educational or instructional software
Mixed media publications where the principal constituent is text-based

ISBN charges

New rates are applicable as per Legal Notice 16 dated 20th November 2014, published in the Kenya Gazette. The rates also incorporate the ISBN barcode, which was initially sold separately.

ISBN package	Cost
Single ISBN	Kshs 1,500.00
Batch of 10 ISBNs	Kshs 10,000.00
Batch of 100 ISBNs	Kshs 50,000.00
Batch of 1,000 ISBNs	Kshs 100,000.00

International Standard Music Number (ISMN)

Kenya National Library Service signed a contract with the International Standard Music Number (ISMN) Agency in Berlin, mandating KNLS to act as the national agency for issuing ISMN numbers to local artists. KNLS became the third country in Africa, after Ghana and South Africa, to sign a contract to administer ISMN. ISMN, like ISBN for books, is a number that identifies published works of music for a given country. It identifies publications of notated music whether they are available for sale, hire, free distribution or copyright purposes only. It is not targeted at sound or video recordings, except in rare cases where such recordings form an integral part of a notated music publication. Individual sound recordings are identified by the International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN).