IJEMS Online e-Journal ISSN :  2348-3733

Serials Defined

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.

International Standard Serial Numbering (ISSN)

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). 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. 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. 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.

Advantages of Use

1. The ISSN should be as basic a part of a serial as the title. 
2. The advantages of using it are abundant and the more the number is used the more benefits will accrue.
3. ISSN provides a useful and economical method of communication between publishers and suppliers, making trade distribution systems faster and more efficient.
4. The ISSN results in accurate citing of serials by scholars, researchers, abstracters, and librarians.
5. 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.
6. ISSN is used in libraries for identifying titles, ordering and checking in, and claiming serials.
7. ISSN simplifies interlibrary loan systems and union catalog reporting and listing.
8. The U.S. Postal Service uses the ISSN to regulate certain publications mailed at second-class and controlled circulation rates.
9. The ISSN is an integral component of the journal article citation used to monitor payments to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
10. All ISSN registrations are maintained in an international data base and are made available in the ISSN Register online.