'For all ISBN-13 users, whether novice or expert, this document details what an ISBN is, how an ISBN is used, and what the components of an ISBN are. ISBN-13 For Dummies also explains the January 2007 transition of the ISBN from a 10-digit number to a 13-digit number in easy to understand language. The purpose of ISBN-13 For Dummies is to help users understand how to work with ISBNs during and after the ISBN-13 transition, what things about ISBNs aren't going to change, and how to handle the changes that are coming.' On January 1, 2007, the ISBN agency will begin issuing 13-digit ISBNs, giving the book industry less than two years to transition from 10-digit to 13-digit ISBNs. After January 1, 2007, publishers must assign only 13-digit ISBNs to their books, and retailers must accept 13-digit ISBNs in their sales systems. In this document, we discuss the issues you need to be aware of during the transition. The information we provide is important to know, whether you're a beginner or an advanced ISBN user.