International Standard Serial Number meaning

The International Standard Serial Number is a unique identifier assigned to serial publications to facilitate organization and retrieval of information.


International Standard Serial Number definitions

Word backwards lanoitanretnI dradnatS laireS rebmuN
Part of speech Noun
Syllabic division In-ter-na-tion-al Stan-dard Se-ri-al Num-ber
Plural The plural of International Standard Serial Number is International Standard Serial Numbers.
Total letters 33
Vogais (6) i,e,a,i,o,u
Consonants (10) i,n,t,r,l,s,d,m,b

International Standard Serial Number, or ISSN, is a unique identifier assigned to a serial publication. This identifier helps in distinguishing one publication from another, making it easier for libraries, publishers, and users to identify and manage serial publications.

Importance of ISSN

ISSN plays a crucial role in the management of serial publications. It helps in preventing confusion among various publications with similar titles and ensures accurate identification of each publication. This unique identifier simplifies the process of cataloging, ordering, and accessing serial publications.

How ISSN is Assigned

The ISSN for a serial publication is assigned by the ISSN International Centre, located in Paris, France. Publishers can apply for an ISSN for their publication, and once assigned, it remains unchanged throughout the life of the publication, even if ownership or format changes.

Structure of ISSN

An ISSN consists of eight digits divided into two groups of four, separated by a hyphen. The last digit of the ISSN is a check digit, which can be a number or the letter "X." This check digit helps in detecting and preventing transcription errors.

Uses of ISSN

ISSN is used by libraries, publishers, researchers, and aggregators to uniquely identify and access serial publications. It is often included in the masthead or copyright information of a publication, making it easily visible to users. Online databases and indexing services also use ISSN to organize and retrieve information about serial publications.

In conclusion, ISSN is a valuable tool in the world of serial publications, providing a standardized and reliable method of identifying and managing these essential resources. With its unique identifier, ISSN simplifies the process of tracking and accessing serial publications, benefiting publishers, libraries, and users alike.


International Standard Serial Number Examples

  1. Academic journals often include their International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) on the cover page.
  2. Librarians use International Standard Serial Numbers to catalog and track serial publications within their collections.
  3. Researchers cite scholarly articles by including the ISSN in their references list.
  4. Publishers print the International Standard Serial Number on the masthead of magazines and newspapers.
  5. Online databases use ISSN to uniquely identify and index electronic journals.
  6. Libraries assign International Standard Serial Numbers to new periodicals as part of the cataloging process.
  7. Authors request an International Standard Serial Number from the ISSN International Centre for their new publications.
  8. Scholars search for articles by ISSN in academic databases for precise retrieval of information.
  9. Subscription services validate access to e-journals by verifying the International Standard Serial Number provided by users.
  10. Bibliographic records in library catalogs include the International Standard Serial Number to aid in resource discovery.


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  • Updated 24/04/2024 - 16:04:24