This article was downloaded by: [Simon Fraser University]On: 15 November 2014, At: 02:20Publisher: RoutledgeInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH,UK

The Serials Librarian: From thePrinted Page to the Digital AgePublication details, including instructions forauthors and subscription information:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wser20

Seven Myths About the ISSNRegina Reynolds Workshop Leader a & Ann ErcelawnRecorder ba National Serials Data Program , Library of Congressb Vanderbilt University Library , Nashville, TN, USAPublished online: 13 Oct 2008.

To cite this article: Regina Reynolds Workshop Leader & Ann Ercelawn Recorder(1997) Seven Myths About the ISSN, The Serials Librarian: From the Printed Page tothe Digital Age, 31:1-2, 367-372, DOI: 10.1300/J123v31n01_25

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J123v31n01_25

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all theinformation (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform.However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make norepresentations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness,or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and viewsexpressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, andare not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of theContent should not be relied upon and should be independently verified withprimary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for anylosses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages,and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly orindirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of theContent.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes.Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan,

sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone isexpressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found athttp://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Sim

on F

rase

r U

nive

rsity

] at

02:

20 1

5 N

ovem

ber

2014

Seven Myths About the ISSN

Regina Reynolds Workshop Leader

Ann Ercelawn Recorder

SUMMARY. An understanding of how International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSN) are assigned and used is fundamental to the work of all participants in the serials information chain. This work- shop sought to dispel many of the common misconceptions about the ISSN by exploring the "myths" and presenting the facts. [Anicle copies available for a fee fiom The Haworth Document Delivery Sem'ce: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail dm: getinf@~l)t~)tth.com]

Regina Reynolds, Head of the National Serials Data Program since 1992, conducted a workshop exploring the many myths surrounding the ISSN for an audience composed of serials librarians, publishers, and sub- scription agents. Reynolds presented a fictitious case study-of a "hook to holdings" project undertaken by a brash and ill-informed cartoon charac-

Regina Reynolds is Head of the National Serials Data hogram. Library of Congress.

Ann Ercelawn is an Original Cataloger at the Vanderbilt University Library, Nashville, TN.

O 1997 by the North American Serials Interest Group, Inc. All rights reserved. [Haworth co-indexing entry note]: "Seven Myths About the ISSN." Ereelarm. Ann Co-published

amultnneody in 77k? Seriah Libmn'an Hawnh Resr. Lnc.) M I . 31. No. In. 1997, pp. 367-372; and: Pioneerinn New Serials Fmnriers: Fmm Pew~lyphs to Cyberserials (4: Christine Christianwn and Cecilia ~ s h e m ) The Hawonh PRS$ Inc.. 1997.-ii. 367-372. Single m multiple mpiesof this article are available for a fee fmn lk Hawonh Documnl Delivew Service 11400-342-9678, 9:00 am. - 5.IN p.m. (EST). E-mail address: ge~inf@aworth.coml.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Sim

on F

rase

r U

nive

rsity

] at

02:

20 1

5 N

ovem

ber

2014

368 PIONEERING NEW SERIALS FRONTIERS

ter called Serial Sam, who is instructed by his boss, Mona Monograph, to acquire ISSN information for all the records in his library's catalog in order to link them to records provided by abstracting and indexing ser- vices. As Reynolds related the tale of Serial Sam's .misadventures, she challenged workshop attendees to note where Serial Sam fell victim to many of the common misconceptions about the ISSN, as they would be asked to identify Serial Sam's errors at the conclusion of the fable. In the story, Serial Sam immediately runs into trouble trying to match titles between the catalog and A&I databases, consulting a serials directory and periodical issues in the stacks to locate ISSN, attempting to determine what to do with title changes, foreign titles, the same title in different formats, etc. Desperate to acquire missing ISSN data for his records, he tries to bribe the agency responsible for assigning the ISSN into giving him numbers immediately, and ultimately resorts to making them up him- self! When Serial Sam's completed "hook to holdings" project is unveiled at a formal ceremony and proves a total disaster, Serial Sam wails, "Where did I go wrong?"

Perceptive workshop attendees responded enthusiastically to Serial Sam's plea for help by correctly identifying many of his mistakes. A lively interchange ensued between Reynolds and the audience in discussing the major myths surrounding the ISSN. Fourteen (rather than seven!) myths and the accompanying facts were summarized by Reynolds in a handout distributed to participants:

Myth: The ISSN has embedded meaning like the ISBN.

Fact: Unlike the ISBN, which contains country andpublisherprefues. the ISSN has no embedded meaning.

Discussion: Blocks of ISSN are assigned to ISSN national centers by the ISSN International Centre. Blocks are generally assigned sequentially, with lower numbers indicating earlier publications, but there are some exceptions. The last digit of the ISSN is a check-digit which allows for machine validation of the numbers in systems which have algorithms designed to check ISSN.

Myth: If an ISSN printed on an issue conflicts with one on a MARC record, the one printed on the issue is the correct one.

Fact: More ofien than we wish. publishers ofien change titles without getting a new ISSN. Thty also misprint ISSN. ISSN in NSDP-authenticated records or in ISSN International Centre products are the best source of accurate and current ISSN.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Sim

on F

rase

r U

nive

rsity

] at

02:

20 1

5 N

ovem

ber

2014

NASIG Workshops 369

Myth: Serials can have either ISSN or ISBN, but not both.

Fact: ISSN and ISBN are both used on serials such as directories and monographic series. The ISBN identtpes the particular year or volume, the ISSN identijies the serial or series.

Myth: The plural of ISSN is ISSNs.

Fact: According to ISSN standad. "ISSN" is usedfor both singular and plural.

Myth: Publishers who have an ISSN are entitled to lower postal rates.

Fact: Although the US. Postal Service uses the ISSN as a conml mecha- nism for publications which are granted second class mailing rates, and requires printing of ISSN confinned by NSDR publishers with ISSN pay the same rate as publishers without ISSN.

Discussion: Reynolds explained that as part of NSDP workflow, the agency reviews all applications for second class mailing rates. However, not all publications that qualify for these rates are assigned ISSN. Publica- tions that are of a very local nature and unlikely to be cited or indexed, such as Boy Scout newsletters, are not routinely assigned ISSN. However, if a publisher specifically requests ISSN assignment, NSDP will comply and provide an ISSN.

Myth: ISSN are assigned by national libraries worldwide.

Fact: Most ISSN centers are located in national libraries but several are housed in national scientific and technical centers.

Myth: NSDP can assign an ISSN to any serial.

Fact'NSDP can only assign ISSN to serials published in the U.S., with some exceptions. ISSN for publications of international bodies (e.g.. the United Nations) are assigned by the ISSNInternational Centre. located in Paris. Responsibility for certain multinational publishers is divided among ISSNcenters in the counh-ies in which they publish.

Myth: ISSN are only assigned at the request of the publisher.

Fact: ISSN are also assigned at the request of abstracting and indexing services, the U.S. Postal Service, and as port of the Library of Congress serial cataloging worhjlow.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Sim

on F

rase

r U

nive

rsity

] at

02:

20 1

5 N

ovem

ber

2014

3 70 PIONEERING NEW SERIALS FRONTIERS

Discussion: Workshop attendees inquired as to how they could assist the ISSN assignment process. Reynolds noted that although NSDP generally cannot respond to requests from individuals due to staffing shortages, there are ways that serialists can help. Vendors can assist by advising publishers that they should acquire ISSN for new titles and for title changes. Librarians can notify NSDP when thev discover misorinted ISSN on c-nt serial publications, NSDP will follok-up by conta&ng publish- ers to correct the situation or forward reauests for correction to non-U.S. centers for foreign publications. ~ibrariah can also contact publishers to request that they acquire ISSN (the process is completely free, but gener- ally requires several weeks to complete). A wealth of information about ISSN, including downloadable and interactive application forms, is avail- able on NSDP's new web site (http://lcweb.loc.gov/issn/). Applications for print serials must be accompanied by a piece or surrogate, but Reynolds noted that publishers of electronic publications may submit ISSN applica- tions by using the interactive form and including a URL or other access information. NSDP uses the form completed by the publisher as a cost-ef- fective basis for a cataloging record by manipulating publisher-supplied data.

Myth: One ISSN is assigned to the basic serial regardless of how many formats it is published in.

Fact: Separate ISSN are required for each physical format in which a serial is published, except for repmducrion micmfom which carry rhe ISSNof the original serial.

Myth: Publishers self-assign ISSN.

Fact: While ISBN are self assigned by publishers, ISSN are assigned by ISSN centers worldwide.

Myth: A serial published in 1950 could not have an ISSN.

Fact: Even though the ISSN system didn't get started until the early 70s, older and ceased serials are eligible for ISSN and many such serials have had ISSNassigned to them.

Myth: Having an ISSN means no one else can use that title.

Fact: The lSSN confers no rights t o o title. g the title is not unique, the ISSNcenter ad& a qualifier to make it unique. Protecting a title requires a trademark.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Sim

on F

rase

r U

nive

rsity

] at

02:

20 1

5 N

ovem

ber

2014

NASIG Workshops 3 71

Discussion: One workshop participant inquired what happens when 2 publishers issue the same title and each publisher claims that it publishes the true version. Reynolds responded that the ISSN center with jurisdic- tion for that title decides who is entitled to the ISSN. Alternatively, the lSSN center might decide that the old publication had ceased and assign two new ISSN.

Myth: The ISSN stays the same for the life of the serial, regardless of title changes.

Fact: Most title changes require new ISSN. However; some minor changes such as changes in prepositions, conjunctions, or spelling do not. ISSN centers make these decisions.

Discussion: A question about situations in which revised cataloging rules for determining title changes would result in a record merger elicited the response from Reynolds that such cases are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. ISSN in such situations are not routinely canceled. Canceled ISSN sometimes result from double assignment by 2 catalogers in the same or different agencies. A canceled ISSN is entered in the subfield z of the 022 field of a serial record. The subfield y in the 022 fieldreflects ISSN found on issues of serials, either misprinted by the publisher or no longer valid due to a title change.

Myth: Serials directories are the best sources of ISSN.

Fact: Serials directories usually get at least some of their ISSN from the publisher who may not have gotten a new ISSNfor a title change, or may have confused ISSN among various publications. The best sources for ISSN are OCLC, the CONSER database, the U.S. MARC tapes for US . serials, and for non4J.S. serials, ISSN Compact or other products ofthe ISSNInternational Centre.

In conclusion, Reynolds outlined some of the challenges currently fac- ing the National Serials Data Program. The Program is coping with inade- quate funding and staffing. She expressed some concern that a proposal to reorganize NSDP into a Library of Congress cataloging section might dilute the primary mission of the program, which is to assign and promote ISSN. Further, she noted that serials publications themselves are providing significant challenges due to proliferating formats, and that web sites with constantly changing material are challenging conventional definitions of what constitutes a serial publication. On a lighter note, Reynolds ended her

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Sim

on F

rase

r U

nive

rsity

] at

02:

20 1

5 N

ovem

ber

2014

3 72 PIONEERING NEW SERIALS FRONTIERS

fable of Serial Sam by having him attend remedial serials school, join NASIG to further his serials education, contribute to AmIs (American ISSN friends), many Mona Monograph, and begin raising either a future technical processing department, or (as was suggested during the second session), a family of loose-leaf services. Workshop participants were delighted by the happy conclusion to the story (and both entertained and informed by Reynolds' presentation).

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Sim

on F

rase

r U

nive

rsity

] at

02:

20 1

5 N

ovem

ber

2014