If you're publishing a book or certain serials, you should use an ISBN or ISSN to maximise visibility and circulation.
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
An ISBN is a 13-digit unique identifier for a publication.
An ISBN allows the publisher, author, title and edition details of a publication to be traced, and can increase the potential exposure of a piece of research to the external community.
Attaching an ISBN to a publication maximises visibility and circulation. The Library can do this for you, free of charge.
Publications covered by ISBN
| Publication type |
Does it qualify? |
|---|---|
| Books or monograph works (including sets or volumes) |
Yes, if they're textual and/or has instructional content. No, if they're only available to a restricted group of people e.g. registered students on a course or a club's members only. |
| Calendars or diaries |
Yes, if a substantial proportion of content is textual or graphic in nature. No, if they're intended solely for time management purposes. |
| CD-ROMS (including sets) |
Yes, if they have a textual and/or instructional content. No, if they're purely for entertainment. |
| Computer application packages | No |
| Computer games | No |
| Music scores | No |
| Non text-based publications | No |
| Serials |
Yes, if they're published only once a year. No, if published more than once a year. However, serials published more than once a year do qualify for an ISSN issued by the British Library |
| Videos (including sets) |
Yes, if they have a textual and/or instructional content. No, if they're purely for entertainment. |
| Websites | No |
How to get an ISBN
As a publisher we are required to:
- tell the Publishers Licensing Society about any new publications we produce
- maintain a central record of our publications
To help us keep these records up-to-date, we will help you get an ISBN for material published by University of Strathclyde Publishing. This service is free of charge and normally takes two working days.
To apply for an ISBN please fill in and send an .
To comply with the Legal Deposit obligations, we will forward a copy of your publication to each of the six Legal Deposit Libraries. In order for us to do this you must provide us with six copies of your publication.
International Standards Serial Numbers (ISSN)
An ISSN is an 8-digit code used to identify newspapers, journals, magazines and periodicals of all kinds, both print and electronic.
Attaching an ISSN to a serial maximises visibility and circulation. The Library can do this for you, free of charge.
How to get an ISSN
To apply for an ISSN, fill in an return a , along with a copy of your publication.
Please allow 30 days for processing, and tell us if you need the ISSN by a particular date. You can do this in Section 9 of the form.
More information
For more information about the ISBN service, ISSN service, or copyright, please contact us.
We are required to maintain a central record of publications we produce. We must also advise the Publishers Licensing Society of new publications.