In accordance with the statistics of registration of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) requests provided by the Macao ISBN Agency, 588 books and 29 periodicals were slated for publication in 2016. The record shows a decrease of 134 books and an increase of 3 periodical titles in comparison with 2015. In 2016, 447 publications were submitted to the Macao Central Library collection under the Legal Deposit Regime (including 381 titles applying for ISBN).
In 2016, a total of 41 publishers submitted new applications for the ISBN system (including 4 governmental departments, 1 school, 9 commercial organisations, 18 civic organisations, 8 individuals and 1 other special group), with a cumulative total of 852 publishers (categories of publishers: 61 governmental departments, 31 schools, 162 commercial organisations, 367 civic organisations, 215 individuals and 16 other special groups). This shows a 13-fold increase in comparison with the 62 publishers registered in 2000 when the ISBN Agency was founded. Compared with last year, the data shows that the development of publishing in the Macao SAR was influenced by the economy and did not grow as rapidly as in the past two years and is in a period of adjustment. The amount of published books has been decreasing to the level of 2012 and 2013. There has been a growth in the awareness of ISBN application for publishers. The international standardisation of book publication has greatly strengthened the ability to bring Macao books to the international market.
To apply for ISBN, applicants must download an application form in PDF format at the Macao ISBN Agency website at isbn.library.gov.mo, and submit the completed application form together with one copy of the finalised cover page, title page and copyright page to the Macao ISBN Agency (address: No. 3, Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, Santo Agostinho Square, 2nd Floor, Macao). First-time applicants are required to submit a copy of supporting documents of commercial registration or non-profit social organisation registration, whereas individual publishers are required to submit a copy of their Macao I.D. Card. The ISBN Agency will reply to applicants within three working days starting from the day of reception of after all necessary documents. Application is free.
In addition, in order to facilitate the publishers’ fulfilment of the Legal Deposit obligation, publishers can submit their publications in person to the ISBN Agency, the Central Library, or the Taipa Library, or by post. Postage is waived if the publication weight is under two kilograms, but it must be indicated in the package that the publication is for “Legal Deposit”. For more information regarding the services of the ISBN Agency, please visit isbn.library.gov.mo or call (853) 8598 6600 during office hours.