Proposed record for 'alalc97'

[Michael Everson]

On 30 Nov 2009, at 01:37, David Starner wrote:

> On Sun, Nov 29, 2009 at 2:54 PM, Michael Everson  
> <everson at evertype.com> wrote:
>> I think the ISBN allows for precise identification of the reference.
>
> It strikes me that it's overprecise; an ISBN refers to one publisher's
> edition, leaving no room for another publication of the same edition,
> say on Project Gutenberg or some PD republisher. Particularly in the
> extended future, I find it likely that someone else will have kept
> this (presumably PD) reference in print, but it will have a new ISBN.

The publisher and author of the specification is the Library of  
Congress, which is unlikely to go out of business.

Michael Everson * http://www.evertype.com/