Related Resources
- ISSN International Centre
- ISBN Agency, R.R. Bowker
- National Information Standards Organization (NISO)
- U.S. Copyright Office
- Copyright Clearance Center
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
- U.S. Postal Service
Contact information
Library of Congress
U.S. ISSN Center
101 Independence Ave., S.E.
Washington, DC 20540-4284
Tel.: (202) 707-6452
Email: [email protected]
Service hours:
Monday-Friday
9:30 am-5:00 pm
New ISSN Application Form
Please ensure that you type within the fillable boxes and that you provide the requested information as it appears (or will appear) on your publication.
If your serial or other continuing resource (e.g. database or online directory) states that it is published in the U.S., use this form to apply for an ISSN. If it is published elsewhere, please visit the ISSN International Center website for instructions regarding which ISSN center will handle your request.
The ISSN application form is "fillable" online but must be attached to an email and sent to: [email protected] You must email the form to us even if you plan to send the printed publication by U.S. Mail or another delivery service (see supporting documention instructions below). The form can be used to apply for an ISSN before publication or after publication.
Box 1: Record the title exactly as it appears (or will appear) on the primary title source (cover, title page, web page, etc.). Box 1 can include an existing title that lacks an ISSN, a ceased title that never received an ISSN, a future title you are planning to publish, or the future title change of an existing publication.
Boxes 2a and 2b: Indicate whether your publication has already been published in Box 2a. If your publication is not yet published, please indicate this in Box 2b. If you are applying for an ISSN for a publication that is changing the title or for a different format of an existing publication, and the new title or format has not been published,please use Box 2b and add a note in Box 15 with specifics.
Box 10: If your publication is not available by subscription, you do not need to fill in this box.
Boxes 11 and 12: Record the name of the publishing company, organization or person responsible for the publication and the location exactly as they appear on the publication, e.g., ABC Publishers, Anywhere, California. Note: you must state a place of publication on the publication or website itself.
Separate ISSN are required for print, online, CD-ROM, or other formats. You may use one application to apply for all formats of your publication.
Box 15: Please indicate any questions you might have or comments about your publication that do not fit elsewhere on the form.
Supporting Documention
ISSN assignments require staff to view at a minimum: the cover, the title page (if there is one) and any pages showing publishing information including place of publication, name of publishing individual or organization, and frequency of publication. This requirement applies both to print and electronic resources.
For ISSN assignments prior to publication: attach to your email a sketch or mock-up of the required pages if available, or a URL where a page under construction with this information can be viewed.
For ISSN assignments after publication: a sample issue of print publications is required if you wish your publication to be considered for inclusion in the Library of Congress collections; otherwise please attach scans of the required pages (cover, title page, any pages with publication information) to your application email.
The application form can only be submitted via email. Box 17 on the form includes a space for you to indicate how you will mail a print issue. This box also includes instructions on attaching scans for online publications. Box 18 asks you to provide a URL plus a login and password if required to view your publication.
New ISSN Application Form Annotated with Help Tips
U.S. ISSN Application Help Tips (PDF document, 348K)
ISSN Application Spreadsheet Instructions
Use the spreadsheet application only for a group of titles already in publication. Spreadsheets for multiple titles for which a complete issue has not yet been published will be returned unprocessed.
Please complete one ISSN application form that provides the information that is the same for all titles, e.g., place of publication, contact information, etc. Add in the appropriate columns of the spreadsheet information that differs, e.g., title, URL.
Requests that include more than 20 titles should first be negotiated with the U.S. ISSN Center via email or telephone.
You may adapt the spreadsheet to include more or fewer columns as needed for your publication.
Last Updated: December 19, 2017