國際標準書號（International Standard Book Number）在圖書世界中扮演了一極為重要之角色，在全世界已經施行了30多年。在2003年通過的決議中，對於ISBN在長度結構上有了重大的改變，決定在2007年1月，將ISBN由原來之10碼增加為13碼。增碼的主要原因在於日漸增加的圖書出版量以及眾多符合ISBN給號範圍之媒體物件之產生。而在ISBN增碼的全球性改變中，各地區域或國家之ISBN中心應該定位為一教育以及輔導並推廣其轄內出版社群了解此一更動之最重要角色，本文的目的在於就ISBN之發展演進以及增碼之相關規定，做一詳細之說明，並且建議我國ISBN中心所應採取之步驟以及提供組織再造經營之意見。

This article focuses on the issue of the forthcoming introduction and implementation of new ISBN13. A new ISBN system is now on its way to being expanded from ten to thirteen digits by January 1st, 2007. Most publishers and libraries still wonder how to employ the new system and some of them even have little knowledge about the value of the new ISBN. In fact, however, the application of ISBN13 will benefit the whole book industry. The purpose of the standard revision is to expand the capacity of ISBNs for the allocation of those rapidly increasing book titles and new media forms. The National Central Library (NCL) of Taiwan, as a local ISBN agency, plays an important role in supervising and promoting the new ISBN standard. This article provides not only the background information but some suggestions about the new ISBN standard for both the NCL and the book supply chain in Taiwan.