We have been offering free ISBN applications to South African authors for a few years now. Our tally last year was well over 500 authors helped. For free. This free service ironically was provided at a cost for us, hours were invested into each batch of eager authors we assisted.
- 2022, we helped 491 authors obtain ISBNs.
- The year before that, 517.
- Perhaps you can see where this is going?
After several years and 100’s of authors helped, a few things that have jumped out at me.
- Too many South Africans take free services, and the tired faces behind them, for granted.
- The amount of misspelled book titles and email addresses was genuinely concerning.
- Providing this as a free service was taking its toll on us as a business and me as a person.
When the National Library was pumping on all cylinder’s things could work as clockwork: ISBN application received from author –> shared with NLSA –> received back and reshared with the expectant author. Smooth.
However, as is the case in many of our State-run institutions, more often than not things were not firing on all cylinders at the National Library. In fact, many times it seemed the car had run of fuel and was stuck on the side of the road with the wheels now missing. To be clear, the few staff that were left manning the author-facing posts at the NLSA are some of the loveliest humans I have ever worked with. But even they were, and often are, stretched to breaking point by the number of applications received and needing their attention.
(I really think they should offer a paid-for ISBN application tier offering prioritised timing, and educational content packaged for the interested author. However, this is a different chat.)
The Bad News?
As from today we will be taking a break from offering our free ISBN application services for South African authors.
The Good News?
You can now apply directly with the NLSA directly using a bright & shiny new online form from their website right here: https://www.nlsa.ac.za/isbn/
(Let me know how you find the experience? 🙏
I will still be offering new ISBNs as part of our inclusive premium publishing packages offered to our paying author-customers, but the free service for the ISBN application alone will be paused for now. Perhaps this will change in time, we shall see.
Over and out.
