What is an ISSN?
The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is an internationally accepted code which identifies the title of serial publications. It is an eight digit number consisting of seven digits plus a check digit which enables a computer to recognise when the number is incorrectly cited. The check digit may be an X, otherwise the ISSN is fully numeric. The ISSN is not connected with ownership of the journal, nor does it confer copyright or protect the title of the serial from use by other publishers. The ISSN is not related to legal deposit. Under the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 and the Copyright and Related Act 2000, all publications, including individual issues of serials, must be deposited with the British Library whether they carry an ISSN or not.
An ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) is required for each new serial title published. If an online version is also published, two separate ISSN are required. (Thus, two applications for an ISSN–one for the print version and one for the online version–are required.) Process for applying for an ISSN: For serials published in the United States, an ISSN must be obtained from the ISSN Center at the Library of Congress. All the application information is available at their Web site: http://www.loc.gov/issn. To ensure receipt of an application, it is recommended that the application(s) be faxed or sent via e-mail. It takes about 6-8 weeks to obtain a new ISSN. Applications should not be sent to NLM; the Library plays no role in the assignment of ISSN’s. The ISSN Center at the Library of Congress processes requests for ISSN only for U.S. titles. For non-U.S. titles, the best place to access the relevant information is at the ISSN International Centre in Paris, France. Publishers ca
