011 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

Field Definition

This field contains the ISSN as assigned by an ISSN Centre, any ISSN which has been assigned and cancelled, details of terms of availability and/or price. It corresponds to the ISBD(S) Standard Number (or Alternative) and Terms of Availability Area, although the Key Title is entered in field 530.

Occurrence

Optional. Repeatable if the record includes more than one serial title.

Indicators

Indicator 1: blank (not defined)

Indicator 2: blank (not defined)

Subfields

$a Number (ISSN)

A correctly applied ISSN including the hyphen between the fourth and fifth digits. (Optional and not repeatable)

$b Qualification

Used to distinguish between ISSN if a record contains more than one. Not used by the ISSN International Centre. (Optional and not repeatable)

$d Terms of Availability and/or Price

The price of the item and any comment on its availability (EX 3, 6). (Optional and repeatable)

$y Cancelled ISSN

This includes any ISSN that was formerly valid but which has been cancelled by an ISSN centre (EX 2). (Optional and repeatable)

$z Erroneous ISSN

This includes any incorrect ISSN other than those recorded in $y. Most often this will be the result of a printing error. (Optional and repeatable)

Notes on Field Contents

The ISSN is a unique and unambiguous identification number for serials assigned in accordance with ISO 3297. The system for allocating ISSN is controlled by the ISSN International Centre based in Paris. National Centres allocate ISSN to new serials from a batch of numbers allocated to them by the ISSN International Centre, and communicate them to the Centre.

Data format:

An ISSN consists of eight digits. These are the Arabic numerals 0 to 9, except in the case of the last or check digit where a roman numeral X (capital X) can occur. Since ISSN are likely to be used in the same context as codes designed for other purposes, such as the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) or control numbers, a distinction must be preserved in the form of presentation when printed or displayed. An ISSN is, therefore, preceded by the letters 'ISSN' and a space, and appears as two groups of four digits separated by a hyphen, for example: ISSN 1234-5679. The check digit is always located in the extreme right position, and is calculated on a modulus 11 basis using weights 8 to 2. The letters ISSN are not included in field 011 in the UNIMARC record, though the hyphen is. Detailed specifications for the ISSN and calculation of its check digit are found in ISO 3297. The calculation of the check digit is similar to that needed for ISBN (see field 010).

Punctuation:

A hyphen should separate the fourth and fifth digits of a valid or cancelled ISSN. No other punctuation should be present. Punctuation for the $b and $d subfields is entered in these subfields according to the practices of the agency preparing the record.

Multiple ISSN:

Any ISSN that is wrongly assigned and then cancelled or wrongly printed is entered in subfield $y Cancelled ISSN or $z Erroneous ISSN respectively. Such ISSN should be entered in the same field as the correctly assigned ISSN.

Those agencies following ISSN International Centre practices for making serial records will always have only one valid ISSN in field 011 of their records. Those agencies with different practices for making serial records may have records which contain more than one valid ISSN in repeated 011 fields.

Some agencies use the ISSN as record identifier and enter it in field 001. In these cases the ISSN should also be entered in field 011.

Fields or other related entities

010 International Standard Book Number

A number similar in use to the ISSN but applied to books.

013 International Standard Music Number (ISMN)

A number similar in use to the ISBN but applied to printed music.

040 Coden (Serials)

An additional identification system for serials.

225 Series

An ISSN for a series to which the item being catalogued belongs may be entered in subfield 225 $x.

530 Key Title (Serials)

The Key title part of the ISBD(S) Standard Number (or Alternative) and Terms of Availability Area is entered in field 530.

4-- Linking Entry Block

An ISSN that is assigned to a higher level bibliographic item (series) or a lower level bibliographic item (subseries) that is related to the serial being catalogued, may be entered in an 011 field embedded in the appropriate linking entry field (4--).

Examples

Ex. 1:

011 ##$a0003-9756

The ISSN for Archives européennes de sociologie is ISSN 0003-9756.

Ex. 2:

011 ##$a0105-0064$y0036-5646

Scandinavian times and Scandinavian times magazine were allocated the same ISSN, 0036-5645. This number is cancelled and a new number allocated to each. The example gives the contents of the ISSN field in the record of the Scandinavian times.

Ex. 3:

011 ##$a0260-7743$dFree to members of the federation only

The Newsletter of the London Federation of Museums and Art Galleries has the ISSN 0260-7743. Details of terms of availability are included in the record.

Ex. 4:

011 ##$a0009-3947$d£l.00$d£13.25 yearly

Both a single issue price and a subscription rate are given on the item.

Ex. 5:

011 ##$a0263-3264$z0226-7223$z0068-2691

Two different ISSN are given on the Yearbook of European law, 1984 edition. Both are wrong. The correct and the two incorrect ISSN are listed in the field.

Ex. 6:

011 ##$d£2.95

The Moomins annual has a price; but no ISSN has been assigned.