Difference between revisions of "International Standard Serial Number" - New World Encyclopedia

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ISSN and [[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]] codes are similar in concept, where ISBNs are assigned to individual [[book]]s. For particular issues of a periodical an ISBN might be assigned in addition to the ISSN code for the periodical as a whole. Unlike the ISBN code, an ISSN is an [[anonymous identifier]] associated with a periodical title, containing no [[information]] as to the [[publisher]] or its [[location (geography)|location]]. For this reason, a new ISSN is assigned to a periodical each time it undergoes a major title change.
 
ISSN and [[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]] codes are similar in concept, where ISBNs are assigned to individual [[book]]s. For particular issues of a periodical an ISBN might be assigned in addition to the ISSN code for the periodical as a whole. Unlike the ISBN code, an ISSN is an [[anonymous identifier]] associated with a periodical title, containing no [[information]] as to the [[publisher]] or its [[location (geography)|location]]. For this reason, a new ISSN is assigned to a periodical each time it undergoes a major title change.
  
Since the ISSN applies to an entire periodical, a new identifier, the [[Serial Item and Contribution Identifier]], was built on top of it, to allow referencing specific volumes, articles, or other identifiable components (like the [[table of contents]]).
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Since the ISSN applies to an entire periodical, a new identifier, the Serial Item and Contribution Identifier (see below), was built on top of it, to allow referencing specific volumes, articles, or other identifiable components.
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==

Revision as of 20:03, 13 October 2008

An International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic periodical publication. The ISSN system was adopted as international standard ISO 3297 in 1975. The ISO subcommittee TC 46/SC 9 is responsible for the standard.

Code format

The format of the ISSN is an eight digit number, divided by a hyphen into two four-digit numbers. The last digit, which may be 0–9 or an X, is a check digit.

A "check digit" is a form of redundancy check used for error detection, the decimal equivalent of a binary checksum. It consists of a single digit computed from the other digits in the message. With a check digit, one can detect simple errors in the input of a series of digits, such as a single mistyped digit, or the permutation of two successive digits.

The ISSN of the journal Hearing Research, for example, is 0378-5955. To confirm the check digit, the following algorithm may be used:

Calculate the sum of the first seven digits of above ISSN multiplied by 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2, respectively:

0*8 + 3*7 + 7*6 + 8*5 + 5*4 + 9*3 + 5*2
= 0 + 21 + 42 + 40 + 20 + 27 + 10
= 160.

The modulus 11 of this sum is then calculated. Some calculators have a mod() function:

160 mod 11 = 6.

Alternatively you can divide the sum by 11 and determine the remainder:

160/11 = 14 remainder 6.

This modulus or remainder value is then subtracted from 11 to give the check digit:

11 - 6 = 5
5 is the check digit.

An upper case X in the check digit position indicates a check digit of 10.

Code assignment

ISSN codes are assigned by a network of ISSN National Centres, usually located at national libraries and coordinated by the ISSN International Centre based in Paris. The International Centre is an intergovernmental organization created in 1974 through an agreement between UNESCO and the French government. The International Centre maintains a database of all ISSNs assigned worldwide, the ISDS Register (International Serials Data System) otherwise known as the ISSN Register. The ISSN Register contains ISSN codes and descriptions for more than one million periodicals[1] with around 50,000 new records added yearly.

Comparison to other identifiers

ISSN and ISBN codes are similar in concept, where ISBNs are assigned to individual books. For particular issues of a periodical an ISBN might be assigned in addition to the ISSN code for the periodical as a whole. Unlike the ISBN code, an ISSN is an anonymous identifier associated with a periodical title, containing no information as to the publisher or its location. For this reason, a new ISSN is assigned to a periodical each time it undergoes a major title change.

Since the ISSN applies to an entire periodical, a new identifier, the Serial Item and Contribution Identifier (see below), was built on top of it, to allow referencing specific volumes, articles, or other identifiable components.

Availability

The ISSN Register is not freely available for interrogation on the web but is available on a subscription basis. There are several routes to the identification and verification of ISSN codes for the general public.

  • the print version of a periodical typically will include the ISSN code as part of the publication information
  • most, though not all, periodical websites contain ISSN code information
  • derivative lists of publications will often contain ISSN codes; these can be found through on-line searches with the ISSN code itself or periodical title

Use in URNs

An ISSN can be encoded as a URN by prefixing it with "urn:issn:".[2] For example Rail could be referred to as "urn:issn:1534-0481." If the checksum digit is "X" then it is always encoded in uppercase in a URN.

See also

  • CODEN
  • Serial Item and Contribution Identifier

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

External links

be-x-old:ISSN

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