What is an ISSN?

The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is a U.S. standard and an international standard for serial publications (print and digital). The number consists of eight digits: two groups of four digits separated by a hyphen.

In the U.S. the ISSN is assigned by the U.S. Library of Congress. Applications for an ISSN can be completed online and submitted by email or fax.

If you are publishing a journal with the Libraries, we can submit an application on your behalf.

More about the ISSN

• An application for an ISSN can be submitted up to 3 months before a publication is released
• ISSN requests may take 6 weeks to process once received by the LOC.
• Online resources are usually not ISSN assigned ahead of publication.
• For all new publications, 5 articles are considered as a minimum for making a complete issue.