ISSN Luxembourg
Member since 2013
In 2025, the International Centre of ISSN will celebrate half a century of existence and it is with great pleasure that the National Library of Luxembourg (BnL) and its National Agency of ISSN join the celebrations of this exceptional anniversary. Since joining the ISSN network in 2013, the BnL has benefited from a valuable collaboration with the International Centre and would like to express its gratitude for this enriching cooperation.
The story of the Luxembourg ISSN National Agency officially began on 1 November 2013. Its creation was in line with the missions of the BnL, after having hosted the ISBN National Agencies in 1991 and the ISMN in 2008. From the outset, the ISSN International Centre has played an essential role, closely supporting the establishment of the National Agency and providing professional and caring supervision.
National Agency staff were warmly welcomed by colleagues from the International Centre in Paris for two training courses on cataloguing ISSN bibliographic records in 2013 and 2014.
Since its creation, the ISSN National Agency has facilitated the allocation of ISSNs to serial publications, enabling Luxembourgish publishers to obtain a free ISSN directly from the BnL without going through the ISSN International Centre. At the same time, a targeted communication campaign was launched in 2014 to make Luxembourg publishers aware of the advantages of the ISSN and the allocation procedures. These initiatives have contributed to a better promotion and visibility of Luxembourg serial publications at national and international level.
Under the leadership of Sarah Stephan, Head of the Periodicals Department in Luxembourg, the ISSN National Agency has participated in numerous Directors' Meetings and General Assemblies since 2013, via videoconference and in person at Directors' Meetings in Bucharest (2013), Belgrade (2015) and Brussels (2023). These events have been enriching human and professional experiences, allowing the exchange of ideas with colleagues from all over the world and the discovery of remarkable national libraries.
From 2016 to 2017, the ISSN National Agency participated in the revision of the ISSN standard within the Luxembourg Subcommittee ISO TC46/SC09 and WG5 'International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)'.
Between November 2013 and December 2024, 747 ISSN numbers were assigned to Luxembourg periodicals, mostly at the request of publishers. In 2024, 185 ISSNs were assigned retroactively as part of a project to digitise historical Luxembourg periodicals, which will be made available online at www.eluxemburgensia.lu in February 2025.
The year 2025 will mark a turning point with the implementation of a new workflow that will ensure the systematic assignment of ISSNs to all serial publications received through legal deposit by our Luxembourg periodicals cataloguers, Mélanie Correia and Ricardo Baptista. This development will further increase the visibility of Luxembourg periodicals and facilitate their integration into the international network.
On this anniversary of the ISSN International Centre, the BnL would like to congratulate the entire team for their commitment and expertise. Thanks to their work, the ISSN network remains an essential pillar for the identification and promotion of serial publications worldwide. We are proud to be part of this great adventure and look forward to future collaborations that will further strengthen the ties between our institutions!
