Publication Identifier 2: ISSN

The Publication Identifier is a unique identifier used by publishers of a number of scientific journals, books, magazines, newspapers, serials, scientific blogs and databases to find information on that special written product using a set of codes.

There are several types of publication identifier. Some of these are discussed in this article:

• International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
• Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
• International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

In the previous blog post we discussed the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), saying that it was created by Gordon Foster for the first time as a nine-digit code. Later the International Organization for Standardization developed the ten-digit standard number code. After 2007, the ISBN has a 13-digit number standard code. The purpose of the ISBN is to establish and identify one title or edition of a title from one specific publisher and is unique to that edition, allowing for more efficient marketing of products by booksellers, libraries, universities, wholesalers and distributors.

Here in this blog post, we are going to address International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), its applications and difference with other identifiers.

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

First drafted in 1971, ISSN is the number given to one set of the series, to identify a serial, recurring publication, such as a monthly journal.

Typical examples of serial publications include journals, newspapers, serials, scientific blogs and databases. In contrast, monographs (books) are labelled solely with an ISBN.

The ISSN is especially helpful in distinguishing between serials with the same title. The format of the ISSN is an eight-digit code, divided by a hyphen into two four-digit numbers.

When a serial with the same content is published in more than one media type, a different ISSN is assigned to each media type.

The ISSN standard number codes are assigned by the ISSN National Centers and are coordinated by the ISSN International Center that is based in Paris.

Display of ISSN

The number should be printed thus: ISSN 0000-0000

• it should be preceded by the initials ISSN followed by a single space
• then four digits
• then hyphen
• then four more digits

Users of ISSN

• Publishers
• Libraries
• Catalogue databases
• Documentation centres and databases
• Subscription agencies
• Academics
• Retailers/wholesalers

ISBN vs ISSN

ISBN and ISSN codes are similar in concept; ISBN is “International Standard Book Number” and ISSN is “International Standard Serial Number.” Both ISBN and ISSN are identifying codes that are used by publishers for numbering or serializing their publications.

• ISBN identifies the publisher; ISSN does not identify the publisher.
• ISBN is given for monographs or books; ISSN is given to a series of monographs or books.
• ISBN is assigned for a single or separate book; ISSN is assigned for a series of books.
• ISBN identifies the specific volume or issue; ISSN only identifies the series of the volume or issue.
• ISSN is only optional, which means that the publisher is not legally bound to use it; ISBN is obligatory if the book falls under the ISBN application.
• ISBN is different for each volume and issue; ISSN will be the same in all the volumes or issues of a single series.
• ISBN is a 13-digit standard code. ISSN is an eight-digit standard number.