Revising the ISSN: involving stakeholders to adapt a bibliographic standard to its ever-changing environment

Abstract

The International Standard Serial Number is one of the oldest identifiers in the bibliographic domain, and also one of the most widely used and known. It was first established as an ISO standard in 1975, as ISO 3297. Originally intended for printed serials, the ISSN standard has been able over time to evolve in order to meet the needs of its users. It has known four revisions since its first release, the latest being in 2007. ISSN are now applicable to serials and to other continuing resources, whether past, present or to be published or produced in the foreseeable future, whatever the medium of publication or production.

Each ISO standard regularly undergoes systematic revisions. In April 2016, a vote on the opportunity of a systematic revision was issued by TC46/SC9 to all ISO member bodies. From April to September 2016, they will vote to support or not a complete review of the ISSN standard. Evolution of publishing models, forms and formats; emergence of new concepts and description standards in the library and publishing domains; apparition of new identifiers; and the development of linked data are the most important factors that justify why a revision of the ISSN standard should happen.