---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 12:23:46 -0600
From: "Hankel, Hallie" <hhankel@MAIL.JEFFERSON.LIB.LA.US>
Subject: Re: "Bad" ISSN searches (Regina Reynolds)

I would like to thank everyone for the ISSN information. It was all very
helpful.

Hallie Hankel
Serials Librarian
Jefferson Parish Library
4747 W. Napoleon Ave.
Metairie, LA 70001-2310
504-838-1100 x253
fax 504-838-1121
hhankel@mail.jefferson.lib.la.us

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2002 15:30:17 -0500
From: Regina Reynolds <rrey@LOC.GOV>
Subject: "Bad" ISSN searches

Hallie and others--

Thanks to Steve and Robert for answering that the publisher is, indeed,
mis-printing the ISSN.  Some information about the ISSN and its
construction might help here.  The ISSN is made up of 7 digits plus what
is known as a check digit, which is helpful for detecting mis-transcribed
numbers.  The check digit is the result of a calculation on the previous 7
digits such that only one eighth digit is possible.  OCLC searches on only
the first 7 digits.  Therefore, the record retrieved for ISSN 0744-9626
is, in fact, the correct record for the 7 digit combination.  The fact
that the record retrieved does not match the title in hand indicates that
the publisher has mis-printed the ISSN since the correct last digit for
ISSN 0744-962 can only be a "3."

I hope this helps explain some OCLC searching results and how to interpret
NSDP records.  If you have further questions, please do contact me.

Regina Reynolds
Head, NSDP
rrey@loc.gov