/research/researchworks/xisbn/default.htm

originally: http://www.oclc.org/research/researchworks/xisbn/default.htm

Learn more about xISBN

xISBN supplies ISBNs associated with individual intellectual works represented in the OCLC WorldCat database. Give it an ISBN, and it returns a list of associated ISBNs.

Try it out

Enter the following URL into your browser window:

http://labs.oclc.org/xisbn/[ISBN]

substituting an actual ISBN for [ISBN]. For example, try:

http://labs.oclc.org/xisbn/0441172717
(0441172717 is the ISBN for Dune, by Frank Herbert.)

OCLC's xISBN service is intended to be used by machines, rather than people.

A nice example of xISBN in action is OCLC Research's "Find It@Your Local Library" Bookmarklet. We hope you'll try that as well.

The bookmarklet approach is one possibility for using the service, but any application that can generate and send a URL could be used with the xISBN web service. Additional uses for using xISBN include:

  • A user viewing a description of a book at an online bookseller wants to know if the work is available from his/her library
  • A library wants to confirm that no alternative versions of a work are available in their collection before sending an ILL or purchase request
  • Library staff want a single search to check for holdings of all editions/printings of a work before making a selection decision about a gift book

Terms and conditions

Use of this site is subject to OCLC's terms and conditions. By continuing past this point, you agree to abide by these terms.

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