The International Standard Text Code (ISTC): A Work in Progress
A Supply Chain Perspective
by Michael Holdsworth
©2010 Book Industry Study Group and Book Industry Communication
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1. Introduction
The International Standard Text Code (ISTC) is a new identifier for the book industry. Whereas International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) provide a unique identity in the supply chain for each individual product format (either physical products—hardback, paperback; or digital products and formats—downloadable audiobook, PDF e-book, etc.), an ISTC identifies the underlying creative textual work.
Within ISTC, textual works are precisely defined. They are the outputs of creative or intellectual effort expressed as text (a unique string of words in a particular order), intended for publication. Thus Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice are textual works—in this context entirely abstract entities, independent of the physical or digital bindings/containers/wrappers in which they may be presented. A unique ISTC identifier therefore is applied to all editions and versions of the same core content. The use of ISTC thus identifies and groups together all formats or manifestations of the underlying work.
ISTC is a sophisticated and flexible standard, but its potentially multilayered capabilities may appear at first sight to be daunting. Impressive claims have been made regarding ISTC’s potential value to the book industry. This paper goes behind the formal documentation to examine these claims. It provides context and background; and it offers examples to assist publishers and other stakeholders as they take their first steps in engaging with the Standard.
Successful adoption of ISTC by the industry will depend on early commitment from publishers and the Registration Agencies jointly to build the relationships between the underlying creative work and published products on solid foundations of consensus, rigor and consistent methodology. At the same time, open and flexible elements within the coding structure do allow for choices; and some of the claims made on behalf of some of the beneficiary groups require careful testing and validation.
This paper, commissioned by Book Industry Communication (BIC) in the U.K. and the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) in the USA, is intended to generate better understanding of the ISTC and its potential benefits. As a first step in this direction, it will simply “write things down” in order to stimulate discussion. It will attempt to answer some of the questions being asked by publishers and others about how the rules codified in the Standard ought best to be interpreted and leveraged. It offers a first stab at a perspective on best practice. Above all, however, it is grounded in a BIC–BISG concern for improving the supply chain; it is pragmatic and realistic—prioritizing simplicity over complexity in the interests of effecting productive change.
5 Responses
Congratulations on a very clear, thoughtful and useful analysis of the exciting ISTC initiative.
I can see the ISTC becoming part of the linked data initiative that we hear a lot about in libraries. We are moving towards a new cataloging standard, RDA, that is based on the FRBR principles of entities and relationships–one of those entities is the “work”, which is what the ISTC seems to be describing. I imagine it will be very helpful in the future to have a registry already established for identifying works. I hope that as library metadata evolves, we can share more with the wider information community.
Terrific, thanks for posting!
This is great. I can’t wait to see it adopted by publishers and registration agencies all over the world.
I’ve bookmarked this because I found it helpful. I would be very keen to hear more info on this. Cheers!