ISSN, is an International Standard Serial Number, is an eight-digit serial number used to uniquely identify a serial publication, such as a magazine.
ISSN is a worldwide identification code used by publishers, suppliers, libraries, information services, bar-coding systems, union catalogues, etc. for citation and retrieval of serials such as journals, newspapers, newsletters, directories, yearbooks, annual reports, monograph series, etc. The benefits include international publicity and recognition of the serial through automatic inclusion in the International Serials Directory Database.
As scholars who regularly publish peer-reviewed research articles, we frequently see the acronym “ISSN.” But what does it stand for, Are they necessary? How do you obtain one, and what assumptions can you make about them? This article delves into these concerns.
In what ways are ISSNs useful?
There are many situations in which being able to give something a specific name would be useful. This could be the case if you need to prove your identity to the IRS, your electric company, or the membership of a particular group.
Aside from people, there are other things that need to be accounted for. Every product in a warehouse has a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), and every item in a store has a product code. It is crucial for many aspects of airport operations, including the safe delivery of passengers’ luggage, that each airport be identified by its own unique three-digit number.
When it comes to publishing, science is no exception. There needs to be a system in place that allows us to clearly label specific aspects of this part of our lives. The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a part of this system that allows for a one-of-a-kind identifier for each publication. One approach to distinguishing one author from another is via an ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) identity.
An ISSN is merely a different kind of unique identifier; in this case, it specifies a certain type of digital or printed media. The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serves as a unique identifier for a scholarly publication.
To clarify, each publication will be assigned its own distinct ISSN. Some predatory journals use the same or a similar name for their publications in an attempt to confuse scholars into submitting to them. An ISSN cannot be duplicated for two separate journals.
An ISSN is merely a different kind of unique identifier; in this case, it specifies a certain type of digital or printed media. The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serves as a unique identifier for a scholarly publication.
To clarify, each publication will be assigned its own distinct ISSN. Some predatory journals use the same or a similar name for their publications in an attempt to confuse scholars into submitting to them. An ISSN cannot be duplicated for two separate journals.
Does a journal need an ISSN?
An ISSN is unnecessary for a journal.
It is acceptable to publish a journal without assigning it an ISSN, and many publishers do so. A lack of an ISSN does not make a magazine any better or worse than one with an ISSN, despite the fact that some will try to make readers believe otherwise.
The ISSN website makes it clear that “[an ISSN] does not ensure the quality or legitimacy of the contents” (see image below).
A valid ISSN application must explain why you need one.
Even though ISSNs are easily obtained and are not indicative of quality, having one does offer some legitimacy to your publication. However, having an ISSN gives your magazine a distinct number that readers may use to track it down.
ISSNs are assigned to periodic publications so that readers can identify them and be sure they are reading the same issue from issue to issue.
How much does an ISSN cost?
In the nations we consider, ISSNs are provided at no cost. International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) are available for a fee, while this is free.
As if we needed more convincing, here is yet another win for ISSN adoption. Since they are free, I can’t imagine any drawbacks.
What are the guidelines for requesting an ISSN?
Some of the common guidelines we saw include:
ISSNs are issued at no cost.
An ISSN may be cancelled if it can be demonstrated that deceptive information was provided at the time it was requested.
ISSNs are assigned to certain print/electronic media categories, including serials, journals, and magazines. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) gives information regarding what sorts of content are appropriate for an ISSN. They state that “ISSN are applicable to serials and other continuous materials, whether past, present, or to be published or created in the near future, regardless of the publication or production medium.”
An ISSN cannot be assigned to books. They must have an ISBN.
In some instances, you can apply for an ISSN prior to publication, but the general rule appears to be that you must either wait until you have proof of publication or the ISSN will not be formally assigned until you provide proof that the publication exists, even if you have already applied and been assigned an ISSN.
An ISSN can only be granted to online publications after the first issue has been posted. The journal requirements are particularly intriguing. These guidelines exist, for instance, in India (though other nations have similar regulations).
The editorial board should have a minimum of five members.
Provide official postal and email addresses. Personal email addresses (such as Yahoo and Gmail) should be avoided, and institutional domains should be used for the correspondence.
The composition of the editorial board should be multinational, with some members coming from reputable outside institutions.
An ISSN may be revoked if plagiarism is discovered.
For non-annual e-journals, a minimum of five articles is required for a complete issue. Annual publications necessitate ten articles per issue.
Editorial board members should be senior faculty. Students, postdoctoral fellows, and others should be avoided.
The publisher’s name and complete postal address (particularly, India) must be in the publication or on its website. The name of the publisher and the location of publication should be printed or displayed prominently on serials.
It should be noted that the following guidelines apply to ISSN applications: We do not know if a violation of these rules after an ISSN has been assigned will result in its revocation.
How do you apply for an ISSN?
It depends on the country in which you reside as to how simple it is to get, or at least apply for, an ISSN.
If you visit the ISSN website and navigate to the “Requesting an ISSN” section, you will be prompted for your country. This will then connect you with the country agent(s), often via a “Contact Us” or “Submit Your Request” button.
At the time of writing, the UK page required the completion of a form, which was subsequently forwarded to the British Library. You can obtain this form via the ISSN website, but you can also get a similar form via the British Library website.
If we examine a different country, say Australia, you will be redirected to their page. This also leads to the submission of a form.
Consequently, the specific manner of applying for an ISSN will vary from country to country; nevertheless, based on an examination of a number of countries, it appears to be a fairly easy, straightforward procedure, and they generally want the same information.
What do the eight digits mean?
An ISSN consists of eight numerals, with the exception of the last digit, which may be a “X.” This final digit is actually derived from the preceding seven.
The numbers within an ISSN are meaningless. This is distinct from an ISBN, in which each of the 13 numbers has a purpose, and a DOI, in which the first digit denotes the requesting organization. Our article has more details.
The only meaningful digit is the final one. This is referred to as a check digit, and its function is to guarantee the validity of the next seven numbers. This means that if one of the other seven digits or the check digit changes, it can be demonstrated that the ISSN number contains an error.
The Library of Congress provides an explanation of how the check digit is determined.
What is ISSN-L?
You may encounter the abbreviation “ISSN-L,” which stands for “linked ISSN.” This sort of ISSN puts together various media formats of the same serial publication.
We have not observed linked ISSNs frequently. In our experience, journals with both a print ISSN and a separate electronic ISSN are more prevalent.
You may encounter the abbreviation “ISSN-L,” which stands for “linked ISSN.” This sort of ISSN puts together various media formats of the same serial publication.
We have not observed linked ISSNs frequently. In our experience, journals with both a print ISSN and a separate electronic ISSN are more prevalent.
You may never worry about ISSNs as a writer. It may become significant when searching for a particular journal. ISSNs are crucial for this website because they allow us to distinguish across journals, which is not always as simple as it sounds. We have also used ISSNs in our bibliographic databases to group the same journals together due to the fact that, even for the same journal, their titles are sometimes spelled differently.
The vast majority of those who read this post will never need to apply for an ISSN, but if you do, it is a simple and straightforward process.