A Step Forward for ISNI: Amazon Now Accepting Contributor Identifiers

On November 4, Amazon shared the news with publishers that it is now accepting International Standard Name Identifiers (ISNIs) for book contributors.

This standards-aligned move by the bookseller and publishing platform marks a critical step toward improving the accuracy of author and book metadata and increasing discoverability across the U.S. book publishing supply chain. 

Publishers can now submit ISNIs through ebook and print book ONIX metadata, spreadsheet uploads, or Amazon's title editor. Submission is optional, and existing publishing processes remain unchanged.

ISNI is a globally recognized, 16-character identifier that uniquely identifies authors, illustrators, translators, and other contributors to creative works. Amazon’s early plans for ISNI use include reliably connecting books to the correct author pages, accurately linking all versions of an author’s works together, and improving the grouping of different formats and editions of the same work. Authors or those acting on their behalf can register and obtain an ISNI through any of several registration agencies around the world. Bowker Publishing Services, the organization that sells ISBNs to the U.S. book industry, is an ISNI Registration Agency. 

BISG and Advancing Industry Adoption of ISNI

The announcement follows BISG's recent publication of Recommended Practices for Assigning ISNI, developed by a cross-industry working group of approximately four dozen volunteers representing publishers, distributors, retailers, libraries, and other stakeholders.

The recommendations emphasize assigning identifiers early in the publishing process, addressing gaps in backlist metadata, and using ONIX to communicate ISNIs across the supply chain. They suggest what different actors at different points in the book supply chain can do to register ISNIs on behalf of authors or to support authors in obtaining an ISNI.

Agents, publishers, self-authored platforms and other author services, libraries, and recipients of metadata (like distributors and wholesalers) all have a role to play in either registering contributor ISNIs or identifying gaps in metadata where ISNI is missing. 

"Amazon's decision to accept ISNI is an encouraging development for the entire publishing ecosystem," said Claire Holloway, Chair of BISG's Metadata Committee. "Consistent contributor identification is fundamental to high-quality metadata and the communication of books’ unique value. When major retailers support identifiers like ISNI, it creates incentives for publishers and their partners to improve discoverability, reduce ambiguity, and connect readers with the right books and authors."

While ISNI adoption has advanced internationally, implementation in the U.S. has been slower due to limited awareness, technical complexity, and the decentralized nature of the publishing industry. Amazon's support through existing submission methods represents a practical step toward overcoming some of these barriers.

"Standards deliver the greatest value when they slot into everyday operations," said Krista Coulson, Chair of BISG's Workflow Committee. "Making ISNI available through established metadata submission channels, in ONIX 3, as often as possible, builds workflows publishers already use, rather than creating entirely new processes. This is the kind of integration that can help move the industry from recommendations to adoption and realization of benefits."

“Amazon's support for ISNI shines a welcome light on this standard that has so many potential uses in the supply chain. ISNI adoption will help agents and publishers administer rights and royalties for contributors more accurately, it will help publishers link their contributors’ backlist works to frontlist works for editorial and marketing insights, and it will support retailer innovations in curating and presenting books to the reader,” said Allison Belan, Executive Director of BISG. “We hope this encourages organizations to request and use persistent contributor identifiers and strengthens collaboration across the publishing supply chain.”

Resources for Publishers

Publishers interested in submitting ISNIs to Amazon can consult the company's documentation for technical requirements and submission instructions.

BISG also encourages publishers and other industry stakeholders to explore its recently published resources:

• Recommended Practices for Assigning ISNI — Six recommendations for integrating ISNI into publishing workflows and improving contributor identification.

• ISNI Implementation in the U.S. Market: Examples and Blockers — An overview of international implementation efforts and the challenges facing broader adoption in the United States.

BISG will continue working with industry stakeholders to promote ISNI adoption, support implementation, and encourage the consistent exchange of contributor identifiers throughout the book supply chain.