ISSN is for Serials (ISSN Basics: U.S. ISSN Center, Library of Congress)
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`The Library of Congress > Publishers, Authors > U.S. ISSN Center > ISSN Basics > ISSN is for Serials
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`ISSN is for Serials (ISSN Basics)
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`ISSN is for Serials | ISSN for Electronic Serials | What's in a Name?
`Calculating the Check Digit in an ISSN | Bar Codes for Serials
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`Serials Defined
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`Serials are print or non-print publications issued in parts, usually bearing issue numbers
`and/or dates. A serial is expected to continue indefinitely. Serials include magazines,
`newspapers, annuals (such as reports, yearbooks, and directories), journals, memoirs,
`proceedings, transactions of societies, and monographic series.
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`International Standard Serial Numbering
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`The various and constant changes to which serials are subject, combined with the large
`growth in the world's publishing output, prompted the development of a standard (ISO
`3297-1975; ANSI Z39.9-1979) for the identification of serials: the International Standard
`Serial Number (ISSN).
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`A single ISSN uniquely identifies a title regardless of language or country in which
`published, without the burden of a complex bibliographic description. The ISSN itself has
`no significance other than the unique identification of a serial.
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`An ISSN is eight digits long. Always displayed this way: ISSN 1234-5679, the first seven
`digits serve as the title number and the eighth is a check digit which provides an efficient
`means for discovering transcription errors. The system used for calculating the check digit
`sometimes requires a check number of 10, in which case, to prevent a nine-digit ISSN,
`the roman numeral "X" is substituted.
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`For each serial with an ISSN there is a corresponding "key title"--a commonly acceptable
`form of the title established at the time of ISSN assignment. The title provides a
`benchmark which serves to regulate the assignment of ISSN: if the title of a serial
`changes, a new ISSN must be assigned.
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`Administration of the ISSN
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`The coordination of the ISSN is international, with registration initiated at the national
`level where serials are published. The U.S. ISSN Center within the Library of Congress
`serves the United States in the ISSN network. The ISSN International Centre located in
`Paris coordinates the network. The U.S. ISSN Center is responsible for registering and
`providing ISSN for serials published in the United States and for promoting use of the
`ISSN.
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`Advantages of Use
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`The ISSN should be as basic a part of a serial as the title. The advantages of using it are
`abundant and the more the number is used the more benefits will accrue.
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`1. ISSN provides a useful and economical method of communication between
`publishers and suppliers, making trade distribution systems faster and more
`efficient.
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`2. The ISSN results in accurate citing of serials by scholars, researchers, abstracters,
`and librarians.
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`http://www.loc.gov/issn/basics/basics-brochure-serials.html
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`2/22/2016
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`Roxane Labs., Inc.
`Exhibit 1022
`Page 001
`
`

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`ISSN is for Serials (ISSN Basics: U.S. ISSN Center, Library of Congress)
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`3. As a standard numeric identification code, the ISSN is eminently suitable for
`computer use in fulfilling the need for file update and linkage, retrieval, and
`transmittal of data.
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`4. ISSN is used in libraries for identifying titles, ordering and checking in, and
`claiming serials.
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`5. ISSN simplifies interlibrary loan systems and union catalog reporting and listing.
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`6. The U.S. Postal Service uses the ISSN to regulate certain publications mailed at
`second-class and controlled circulation rates.
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`7. The ISSN is an integral component of the journal article citation used to monitor
`payments to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
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`8. All ISSN registrations are maintained in an international data base and are made
`available in the ISSN Register online. The ISSN portal and other products are
`described in a document maintained by the ISSN International Centre: ISSN
`products.
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`How to Obtain an ISSN
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`Instructions for U.S. publishers
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`The assignment of the ISSN is free in the U.S. and there is no charge associated with its
`use. (However, the Library of Congress incurs substantial costs to staff and maintain the
`U.S. ISSN Center. Additionally, the Library of Congress is assessed a considerable fee to
`belong to the ISSN Network.)
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`An ISSN application form may be completed online. Enter the required information and
`then email or fax the form (in the interests of conserving paper and bandwidth, please
`limit faxes or email attachments to no more than five pages), or mail the application by
`U.S. mail or private carrier. A suitable representation of the publication must accompany
`the application. For print serials a sample issue or photocopy of the title page, cover, or
`masthead should be provided. For electronic serials in a tangible form such as CD-ROM or
`floppy disk, an actual issue and printouts of title screens should be submitted. For online
`serials, provide an appropriate URL or e-mail actual issues or mock-ups which will
`accompany the application form to issn@loc.gov.
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`When requesting an ISSN for an already-published serial, send a sample issue or copy of
`the cover, title page, and masthead as appropriate to: Library of Congress, U.S. ISSN
`Center, 101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20540-4284.
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`Except for microform reproductions, separate ISSN are generally required for serials
`issued in different physical formats, (e.g., print, CD-ROM, online, etc.). Separate ISSN are
`also required for serials issued in different language, geographic, or audience editions.
`Please complete a separate application form for each edition or note the different editions
`in the "Additional information, comments, questions" section of the application form.
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`For prepublication requests, a mock-up or artist's conception of the same identifying parts
`of the publication should be sent, if possible. In these "v. 1, no. 1" cases, a follow-up
`sample issue or surrogate of the actual serial must be sent directly to the U.S. ISSN
`Center after publication has begun.
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`To fulfill its purpose, the ISSN should be displayed prominently on every issue, preferably
`in the top right corner of the cover. It is acceptable, however, for the number to appear
`elsewhere on the publication (usually in the masthead area). Various user groups--
`particularly the U.S. Postal Service--have specific printing regulations which must be
`adhered to.
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`If the serial has an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) for the individual volumes
`within a series, in addition to the ISSN for the series as a whole, the two numbers should
`appear together, each with its own prefix. The ISSN should be printed right after the title
`of the series, both in books and in advertising pieces.
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`http://www.loc.gov/issn/basics/basics-brochure-serials.html
`
`2/22/2016
`
`Roxane Labs., Inc.
`Exhibit 1022
`Page 002
`
`

`
`ISSN is for Serials (ISSN Basics: U.S. ISSN Center, Library of Congress)
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`Page 3 of 3
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`It is appropriate for both ISBN and ISSN to be assigned to certain other types of
`publications, most notably annuals and other directories or reference publications. The
`ISBN identifies the particular year or edition, the ISSN identifies the ongoing serial.
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`ISSN should appear on publisher's advertisements (both direct mail and space adds) and
`catalogs, on the serials themselves, and in all other places where details of books and
`serials normally appear.
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`Changes Affecting ISSN
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`Serials often undergo changes, many of which result in a change of title. When this occurs
`a new ISSN must be assigned. The earlier ISSN is not discarded, however, because it is a
`permanent attribute of the serial when it was issued under the earlier title. To avoid
`printing an incorrect ISSN, publishers must notify the U.S. ISSN Center in advance of a
`pending title change--especially one affecting the cover title (which is often the source for
`the key title). The notification will be treated as a request for a new ISSN and the
`procedure is the same as that for the original ISSN request. Other changes to a serial
`such as those of imprint and frequency do not affect the ISSN assignment.
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`Display and careful use of the ISSN will help in the world-wide effort to make the number
`achieve its intended role as a valuable means of identifying serials.
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`Last Updated: August 7, 2015
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`http://www.loc.gov/issn/basics/basics-brochure-serials.html
`
`2/22/2016
`
`Roxane Labs., Inc.
`Exhibit 1022
`Page 003