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Technical Services Division (TSD)

NLM Use of Multiple ISSNs for Serials Issued in Print and Online Versions

Serials issued in print and online formats are cataloged using a single record approach. All ISSNs associated with the title are recorded in the record, using multiple 022 fields as needed.

Two local subfields for MARC 21 field 022 have been defined at NLM. These subfields are only used when more than one ISSN is being used in a bibliographic record.

‡9 (NLM ISSN Flag)

This subfield contains two characters which record whether the ISSN in ‡a is for the print or online or other version, and whether or not that is the primary version reflected in the cataloging record.

The first character of this subfield is coded:

P (Print version)
E (Electronic version)
X (for all other versions)

The second character of this subfield is coded either:

Y (Record is for the identified version) or
N (Record is not for the identified version)
Note: only one ISSN in a record can have a ‡9 with the second character of Y

 

‡0 (NLM local ISSN qualifier)

This subfield displays in the OPAC and clarifies which ISSN corresponds to which format.

This subfield is coded with a textual string enclosed in parentheses:

(Print) when ‡9 is coded P
(Electronic) when ‡9 is coded E
(CD-ROM) or (DVD-ROM) or (Microfilm) when ‡9 is coded X

 

EXAMPLE:

The cataloging record is based on print version of journal that is also issued electronically. The ISSN for the print format is: 1234-5678; the ISSN for the online version is 4321-5678.

NLM records multiple 022s as:

022      ‡a 1234-5678 ‡9 PY ‡0 (Print)
022      ‡a 4321-5678 ‡9 EN ‡0 (Online)

 

EXAMPLE:

The cataloging record is based on electronic version of journal that is also available in print. The ISSN for the print format is 9876-5432; the ISSN for the online version is: 2345-6789.

NLM records multiple 022s as:

022      ‡a 2345-6789 ‡9 EY ‡0 (Online)
022      ‡a 9876-5432 ‡9 PN ‡0 (Print)

 

EXAMPLE:

The cataloging record is based on a CD-ROM version of a journal that is also available online. The ISSN for the CD-ROM is 3456-7890, the ISSN for the online version is 1987-6543.

Record multiple 022s as:

022 ‡a 2345-7890 ‡9 XY ‡0 (CD-ROM)
022 ‡a 1987-6543 ‡9 EN ‡0 (Electronic)

 

When recording multiple ISSN, the 022 with ‡9 second character of Y should be recorded as the first ISSN. If there has been a change in the primary version upon which the catalog record is based, recode and reorder the 022 fields as needed.

When other subfields are recorded in the 022 field they should be provided as needed/permitted, in the following order:

‡a ‡l ‡m ‡y ‡z ‡9 ‡0
Note that ‡l and ‡m are only recorded in the first 022 field.

 

Linking ISSN are recorded in MARC21 field 022 ‡l. Invalid linking ISSN are recorded in 022 ‡m. Most commonly the data in the 022 ‡l will duplicate the data in the 022 ‡a.

If the NLM bib record contains multiple 022 fields, put the linking ISSN information only in the first 022 in the record, which should be the 022 with ‡9 second character of Y. If that is not the first 022 in the record, reorder the 022 fields. This ensures that the linking ISSN is distributed to subscribers Do not use ‡l or ‡m in more than one 022 field.

Only the 022 coded with Y in ‡9 is distributed. 022 ‡9 and ‡0 are suppressed on distribution. Only ‡0 displays in the OPAC.

Note: For information regarding the display of the 022 field in LocatorPlus, see “NLM LocatorPlus -- Search Results Displays - Individual Records” at //www.nlm.nih.gov/services/lpdisply.html. Note that the MARC View tab shows the fully content-designated fields.


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Last Reviewed: August 6, 2014