Library

Obtaining ISBNs and ISSNs

ISBNs and ISSNs

ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) and ISSNs (International Standard Serial Numbers) are unique bibliographic reference numbers used to identify individual books, journals, multimedia and other published materials. For example:

  • A History of Wollongong (book) ISBN:  0 86418 4468
  • Illawarra Unity (journal) ISSN: 1327-8126

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Obtaining ISBNs for UOW publications

The University Library is authorised to allocate ISBNs for any University of Wollongong monograph publications (books, working papers, conference proceedings in print or on CDROM / DVD etc.). These ISBNs are purchased in blocks on behalf of the University. There is no cost to the individual requester.

Requesting your ISBN 

To obtain an ISBN, email the Archivist. In your email, please supply the following brief bibliographic citation details for the Library's records:

Author/Editor:
Title:
Series: (if applicable)
Publisher: University of Wollongong (specify department/unit where applicable)
Publication Year:
Format: book / video / CDROM / DVD (delete those not applicable)

An ISBN will be allocated to you by return email. Please allow at least two working days for your request to be processed.

Placement guidelines for your ISBN

For books the ISBN should appear on the reverse side of the title page and also on the bottom of the back cover. The letters ISBN should always precede the number. For disks and videos the ISBN should appear on the product itself, as well as on any packaging.

Additional information is available on the ISBN Australia Agency web site.

Lodging a copy of your publication in the Library

You are asked to lodge a copy of your publication with the University Library, so that it can be catalogued and placed in the Library's collection.

(As a result of being catalogued it will also be listed on the Kinetica National Bibliographic Database for the information of other libraries around Australia.)

In addition, please advise the Library if your publication is to be made freely available online. The relevant URL will be added into the Library Catalogue to accompany the details of the print publication.

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Obtaining ISBNs for non-UOW publications

The Library is not authorised to allocate ISBNs for non University of Wollongong publications. For these please contact:

ISBN Australia Agency
18 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
Ph: 03 9245 7385
Email: isbn.agency@thorpe.com.au
Web: http://www.thorpe.com.au/isbn

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Obtaining ISSNs

The National Library of Australia is the only agency authorised to allocate ISSNs for journals, newsletters, annual reports etc. The University Library cannot allocate ISSNs for University of Wollongong serial type publications. For these please contact:

ISSN Australia Agency (National Library of Australia)
Canberra ACT 2600
Ph: 02 6262 1213
Email: issn@nla.gov.au
Web: http://www.nla.gov.au/services/issn.html

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Fulfilling Legal Deposit requirements

In addition to the copy you lodge with the University Library, single copies of your publication should also be sent/offered to the four relevant legal deposit libraries, as indicated on the National Library of Australia 'Legal Deposit in Australia' web page:

  1. Legal Deposit Unit 
    National Library of Australia
    Canberra ACT 2600
    Ph: 02 6262 1312 
    Email: legaldep@nla.gov.au

  2. Legal Deposit Collection Organisation
    State Library of New South Wales
    Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
    Ph: 02 9273 1489
    Email: orders@sl.nsw.gov.au

  3. Legal Deposit Officer
    NSW Parliamentary Library
    Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
    Ph: 02 9230 2384
    Email: libreq@parliament.nsw.gov.au

  4. Legal Deposit Officer
    University of Sydney Library
    Sydney NSW 2006
    Ph: 02 9351 7268
    Email: legaldeposit@library.usyd.edu.au

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Need more help?

Please contact the Archivist.

 

Last reviewed: 25 October, 2011