Everything you need to know about ISSN
The ISSN is one of the compulsory indications on a serial publication. Who attributes it? What is it for? How to get one?
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Who assigns ISSNs?

The ISSN is assigned by the ISSN Network, which assigns codes and maintains a global database of serial publications and ISSNs. The National ISSN Centres assign ISSNs and maintain local databases. The International ISSN Centre is the coordinator.

Compulsory indication

The ISSN is one of the compulsory indications on a serial publication. It must be indicated, whether on a print or digital publication.

Here are the recommendations of the International ISSN Centre for the printing of this code:

“For a print publication, the ISSN must appear:

preferably in the upper right corner of the cover,

failing that, on pages containing editorial information (publisher, periodicity, print completion, etc.).

For an electronic publication, the ISSN must be indicated:

on the homepage or on the main menu if it is an online publication,

on any part that can be read with the naked eye (header of a microfiche, label of a CD-Rom or DVD, case, etc.), if it is a publication on a physical medium

It is important to choose your title carefully: any change will result in the creation of a new ISSN.

For example:

1975-1980 – Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences Séries A et B , Sciences mathématiques Série A, Sciences mathématiques, ISSN 0151-0509

1981-1983 – Comptes rendus des séances de l’Académie des sciences Série 1, Mathématique, ISSN 0249-6291

1984-2001 – Comptes rendus de l’Académie des sciences Série 1, Mathématique, ISSN 0764-4442

2002-… – Comptes rendus. Mathématique, ISSN 1631-073X

Document identification

The ISSN identifies a periodical document “unambiguously and unmistakably”. It allows, for example, to remove the ambiguity in the case of two homonymous titles. It has no meaning and contains no information about the content of the publication.

DOI identifiers

The International ISSN Centre recommends that publishers use the ISSN as part of their title-level DOI linking to the journal: “It is strongly recommended that publishers use the ISSN as part of the title-level DOI they use to provide a persistent and clickable link to their journal”.

Indexation

Having an ISSN is necessary to be indexed on scientific journal platforms, such as the DOAJ. Ainsi, nous pouvons lire dans les critères d’inclusion au DOAJ : “A journal must have at least one ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) which is registered and confirmed at issn.org“.

Data exchange tool

The DOI is a tool for professionals dealing with serial publications: libraries, booksellers, suppliers, publishers, etc. By uniquely identifying a title, the DOI facilitates exchanges with suppliers, the management of journals in libraries, checks in catalogues, electronic archiving, etc.