Registering ISSNs for Hosted Journals

This page describes how to request an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) from the U.S. ISSN Center at the Library of Congress for journals hosted on the Libraries’ OJS service. It covers pre-publication (provisional) requests, the ISSN Uplink application, and the follow-up needed to confirm a provisional ISSN after launch.

Overview

  • ISSNs for serials published in the United States are assigned by the U.S. ISSN Center at the Library of Congress.

  • Assignment is free.

  • All applications are submitted through ISSN Uplink. Uplink replaced all earlier application methods in November 2020.

  • Each format needs its own ISSN. A journal published both online and in print needs two ISSNs, one for each format. Both formats are requested on a single application.

  • Processing can take up to six weeks. Build this into the launch timeline, especially when the ISSN is needed before DOI registration with Crossref.

Pre-publication (provisional) ISSNs

A pre-publication ISSN is assigned before the first issue appears. It remains provisional in the ISSN Portal until the U.S. ISSN Center reviews a published issue.

Library of Congress conditions

The U.S. ISSN Center assigns pre-publication ISSNs only when:

  • No issues or content have been published under the title.

  • The first issue is no more than six months away. The application form will not offer dates further out.

  • A mock-up of the publication is provided with the application.

  • The applicant accepts that the request may be deferred until the first issue is published.

Note

ISSN International Centre policy generally does not assign pre-publication ISSNs to online-only resources. The U.S. center makes an exception for historically well-established publishing organizations. Requests from the Libraries for OJS-hosted journals have been granted provisional ISSNs on this basis. State clearly in the application that the journal is published and hosted by Texas A&M University Libraries.

Important

Open access journals must publish an issue with at least five articles before an ISSN can be confirmed. Plan the first issue accordingly.

If a journal does not qualify for a pre-publication ISSN, print “ISSN pending” on the publication and apply after the first issue is published.

Before you start

Gather the following before opening the application. Attachments added to a saved draft are not retained, so add them only when ready to submit.

  • Final journal title, plus any acronym or short form.

  • Expected date and numbering of the first issue, e.g. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Spring 2027).

  • Publisher name. See Choosing the publisher name.

  • The journal’s OJS landing page URL. Make it live, even as a placeholder, so the URL is stable.

  • Mock-up files (PDF, JPG, PNG, DOC, DOCX, or RTF; 1 GB maximum) showing:

    • the journal homepage with the title displayed

    • the About or masthead page with publisher, editorial board, frequency, and the open access and licensing statement

    • a mock table of contents for the first issue

    • a sample article first page or galley header showing where the title and ISSN will appear

After the ISSN is assigned

  1. Add the ISSN to the journal settings in OJS so it appears on the site and in exported metadata. Label each ISSN with its format if there is more than one, e.g. ISSN 1234-567X (Online).

  2. Share the ISSN with the editors for use on article galleys and promotional material.

  3. Record the ISSN with the journal’s other identifiers, such as its Crossref DOI prefix and title record.

Confirming a provisional ISSN

After the first issue is published:

  1. Log in to ISSN Uplink.

  2. Complete the Update publication status form for the title and give the URL of the published issue as proof of publication.

  3. Wait for the ISSN Center to review the issue. Uplink sends a reminder if the expected publication date passes without an update.

  4. The application status changes to ISSN record updated. The ISSN Portal shows the ISSN as confirmed about 7–10 business days later.

Changes before launch

Use the Update publication status form in Uplink for any of these:

Publication delayed

The provisional ISSN can be kept. Enter the new expected date.

Title changed before the first issue

The same ISSN can still be used. Enter the new title.

Journal will not launch

Report the cancellation, and the ISSN Center will cancel the ISSN.

Warning

A title change after publication requires a new ISSN. Apply at least a month before the change takes effect.

Resources