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The Library of Congress > Cataloging, Acquisitions > PCC > CONSER > Summit on Serials in the Digital Environment

Revision of the ISSN Standard

Regina Reynolds, Head, National Serials Data Program (the U.S. ISSN center)

I. Goals

The ultimate goal is a revised version of ISO 3297, the international ISSN standard, which is under the oversight of ISO/TC 46/SC 9.

Goals can be grouped under three broad topics:

  • Enlarging the scope of ISSN to encompass resources that do not fit the traditional definition of serial-i.e., continuing resources, but perhaps not using AACR/ISBD terminology
  • Resolving issues relating to which types of resources-especially electronic-- can be assigned ISSN, and how centers assign ISSN
  • Resolving questions about how many ISSN to assign to resources issued in multiple versions (e.g., print, online, CD-ROM, etc.)

II. Participants

Working Group 5 (WG5) is composed of members representing publishers, subscription agencies, ISSN centers, the ISSN Network, union catalogs, and other ISSN users. Of particular note is representation by the International DOI Foundation, CrossRef, and OpenURL.

III. Status

Results of the first WG5 meeting Jan. 26-27 in Paris were very positive, thanks in part to the broad range of participation.

  • Scope: there was consensus about enlarging the ISSN scope to all of what libraries now call continuing resources but perhaps continue to use the term "serial" with a broadened definition of how that term is to be understood in the standard. Consensus was also reached about maintaining the current principle of comprehensive registration of serials and selective registration of ongoing integrating resources but again, using possibly different terms.
  • Single vs. multiple ISSN: the WG agreed that current ISSN assignment policy (print, online CD-ROM, etc. versions are assigned different ISSN) meets the needs of those, such as subscription agencies and press distributors, who have to differentiate between different versions of a serial. The WG also acknowledged the need expressed by other ISSN users to identify the content of serials for purposes such as abstracting & indexing, and various kinds of linking, including reference linking and OpenURL applications.

The need for one ISSN to identify a serial was expressed very strongly in the results of an online survey undertaken by NISO in 2003. A majority of the respondents expressed concerns about the current policy and mentioned linking to online content as a key use of the ISSN, a function that would work more effectively if there were only one ISSN to identify a given serial.

The WG discussed several ways to achieve serial identification at both the title and "version" levels. Some scenarios posit the ISSN choosing one or the other level and another identifier filling the alternative role. Other scenarios posit the ISSN filling both roles, either by use of a base ISSN plus a medium suffix or by designation of a "master" single ISSN (which could also represent, for example, the print version) plus additional ISSN to represent other versions. Some WG members expressed concerns about the potential disruption to existing systems caused by the suffix scenario, as well as the difficulty of sufficiently controlling the suffixes. Several WG members saw possibilities in the "master ISSN" concept.

IV. Next steps

Input on the various single vs. multiple ISSN scenarios will be gathered from a wide range of user communities and discussed at the next WG meeting to be held in Amsterdam in Mid-May. Language about the ISSN scope needs to be crafted. Another issue to be discussed is broadening ISSN decision structures to include ISSN user communities outside of the library world. After content decisions are made, a draft standard needs to be prepared and agreed on by the Working Group. The target date for releasing a Draft International Standard (DIS) of ISO 3297 is April 2005 (or sooner, if possible).

VI. Links

Monitor the ISSN revision on the TC46/SC9 WG 5 website:
http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/iso/tc46sc9/wg5.htm (external link)

The April 2004 issue of Against the Grain will include an article by Regina Reynolds which presents a fuller discussion of the ISSN revision.

ISSN Network Home Page: www.issn.org (external link)
US ISSN Center Home Page: www.loc.gov/issn/ (external link)