ISBN and ISSN Guidelines

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

ISBN is a book numbering system which identifies each and every book published. It is not a legal requirement to use an ISBN number but they are widely used by libraries, bibliographies and bookshops to identify, track and order books.

This international standard is applicable to printed books, pamphlets, videos and electronic publications.

Numbers are allocated by the Standard Book Numbering Agency Ltd. However, the University has been allocated a batch of numbers which is held by the Publications Office. We can allocate numbers on request to people around the University publishing University publications.

What you have to do

Contact the Marketing and Student Recruitment Office for an ISBN number for your publication.

Print the number as shown:

ISBN 0 901726 82 6

at the foot of either the inside front cover, the title page, the back of the title page or the outside back cover. The ISBN number should appear on the packaging of software/videos in an easily found and easily readable position and on any label affixed to/printed on the software/video.

Once it is printed, deposit a copy of the publication with the British Library (see below).

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

The ISSN is an internationally accepted code which identifies serial publications. An ISSN is needed for publications which have a common title but which are issued in parts eg journals, periodicals, series of working papers. (For a series of working papers, you need an ISSN number to cover the series and also an ISBN number for each working paper.)

ISSN numbers are assigned by the ISSN UK Centre, British Library.

What you have to do

Contact the ISSN UK Centre for an ISSN number:

ISSN UK Centre
The British Library
Boston Spa
Wetherby
West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ

Telephone: 01937 546959

Print the ISSN number as shown:

ISSN 0000-0000

on the top right-hand corner of the cover of the journal or in some other prominent position. Once it is printed, deposit a copy of the publication with the British Library (see below).

For further information on ISSN, see www.bl.uk/

To comply with legal deposit requirements, all publications should be sent to:

Legal Deposit Office
The British Library
Boston Spa
Wetherby
West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ

Telephone: 01937 546268

For further information, please contact Lindsey Russell, Head of Marketing and Student Recruitment, ext 2795, e-mail lindsey.

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