This article is from the Technical Books FAQ, by Sethu R Rathinam rathinam@worf.netins.net with numerous contributions by others.
The format of an ISSN is nnnn-nnnc, where c is a check digit.
The ISSN is a sequentially computer generated number, which has no
publisher link as with ISBNs. A serial is assigned the next number to
come up in the sequence regardless of publisher.
In the U.S. they are allocated by the Library of Congress, the same
department that registers copyrights.
In the UK, the people responsible are The British Library at Boston Spa -
The British Library, ISSN UK CENTRE, Boston Spa, Wetherby,
West Yorkshire, LS23 7BQ, UK.
Tel: 0937 546958/59 Fax: 0937 546979 Tlx: 557381
Credits: Adrian Wontroba, John R Levine
 
Continue to: