ISSN Australia
Member since 1973
The Australian ISSN Agency has been managed by the National Library of Australia since 1973.
Current staff member Nikki White was the Agency’s second administrator from December 1973 to March 1974 and is still one of the team contributing to the Agency’s day to day operations.
Nikki recalls the early days of telephoning publishers, preparing photocopies of the cover and contents pages for each new serial. These were then sent in batches to the International Centre in Paris after registering them in hardback bound ledgers in her impeccably neat handwriting.
Technology has made a significant impact over the past 50 years, streamlining the management of pre-publication records for ISSNs and providing ISSN registration data to the International Centre.
Through the ISSN Agency, the National Library promotes Australian Legal Deposit requirements.
The Agency continues to provide positive ongoing interaction between the National Library, other libraries and the serial publishing industry. We look forward to doing so for the next 50 years as part of our broader stewardship of Australian national collection.
