skip navigation
  • Ask a LibrarianDigital CollectionsLibrary Catalogs
  •  
The Library of Congress > Publishers, Authors > U.S. ISSN Center
International Standards Serial Number (ISSN)
U.S. ISSN Center
  • ISSN Home
  • General Information
  • Application Form
  • News
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us

Related Resources

  • ISSN International Centre External Link
  • ISBN Agency, R.R. Bowker External Link
  • National Information Standards Organization (NISO) External Link
  • U.S. Copyright Office
  • Copyright Clearance Center External Link
  • U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
  • U.S. Postal Service

U.S. ISSN Center

|| About the U.S. ISSN Center  ||

The U.S. ISSN Center, part of the international ISSN Network, assigns International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSN) to serials published in the U.S. The ISSN is a standard identifier for serials (e.g., journals, magazines, newsletters, newspapers, annuals) whether published in print, online or other media. Each medium version is assigned a separate ISSN.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

|| ISSN General Information ||

ISSN is for Serials
The ISSN explained in detail, including:

  • Advantages to using the ISSN
  • Instructions for obtaining an ISSN
  • Definition of a serial

ISSN for Electronic Serials
A separate ISSN is required for each medium. To date, thousands of ISSN have been assigned to serials on computer disk, CD-ROM and online electronic serials.

What's in a Name?
Presentation guidelines for serial publications (prepared by the Serials Section of ALCTS, American Library Association).

SPECIAL TOPICS

Searching in WorldCat
Your publication is now searchable by the title or the ISSN number as soon as the ISSN has been assigned.

Read more about searching

|| ISSN Application Form ||

The ISSN application is now "fillable" online. Once completed, it should be emailed, faxed, or mailed to the Library of Congress for processing. Full instructions and a link to the form are provided on the application form page.

Application form/instructions

|| News ||

Email Notification of ISSN Assignments
We are now sending official notification of ISSN assignments via email. For cost savings and environmental considerations, print notifications will no longer be sent unless they are requested.

Read more news »

|| Contact Us ||

Library of Congress
ISSN Publisher Liaison Section
101 Independence Ave., S.E.
Washington, DC 20540-4284

Tel.: (202) 707-6452
Fax: (202) 707-6333
Email: issn@loc.gov

Service Hours: 
Monday-Friday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Disclaimer

Last Updated: January 26, 2012

Stay Connected with the Library All ways to connect »

Find us on

FacebookTwitterYouTubeFlickr

Subscribe & Comment

  • RSS & E-Mail
  • Blogs

Download & Play

  • Podcasts
  • Webcasts
  • iTunes U 
About | Press | Jobs | Donate | Inspector General | Legal | Accessibility | External Link Disclaimer | USA.gov | Speech Enabled Download BrowseAloud Plugin