How do I get a bar code and International Standard Book Number (ISBN)?

Virtually every product sold in a retail store, including books, needs a bar code. A bar code makes it easy for stores to sell and restock their inventory. Putting a bar code on the back cover of your book is easy to do and is strongly recommended. For books, the information on the bar code includes the price and the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). You will need to obtain an ISBN before you can get a bar code. Note that acquiring an ISBN for your book is not the same as copyright registration or a Library of Congress number. Every professionally-produced book has its own unique ISBN. This number makes it easy for book stores around the world to find and order your book, and also makes it possible to distinguish your book from the thousands of others which are also currently available. You should assign an ISBN to your book early in the production process, not only in order to create your bar code but also to notify book stores about when your book will be available. Every ...  more