what is issn

ISSN stands for International Standard Serial Number, which is an eight-digit code used to identify newspapers, journals, magazines, and periodicals of all kinds and on all media, including print and electronic. The ISSN is especially helpful in distinguishing between serials with the same title. It is a digital code without any intrinsic meaning and does not include any information about the origin or contents of the publication. The ISSN is associated with the title of the publication, and if the publication is modified significantly, a new ISSN is assigned. The last digit of the ISSN is a check digit, so the ISSN is uniquely represented by its first seven digits. Separate ISSNs are needed for serials in different media versions. The International Centre maintains a database of all ISSNs assigned worldwide, the ISDS Register (International Serials Data System), which contains records for 1,943,572 items. The ISSN Register is not freely available for interrogation on the web, but is available by subscription. The ISSN is used in ordering, cataloging, interlibrary loans, and other practices in connection with serial literature.