Włodzimierz Lewoniewski (UEP)

ISSN

Hi Włodzimierz Lewoniewski, on the Dutch Wikipedia, I see you're adding ISSN parameters to reference templates across many articles. I was wondering, what is the added value of including an ISSN when the DOI, which links directly to the source, is already provided? It feels redundant and I think these additional links are cluttering the reference. Thanks, TheBartgry (talk) 23:16, 12 August 2024 (UTC)

Hi TheBartgry, Wikipedia strives for high standards in its citations and references. Completeness - is one of the quality dimensions. So, the more complete metadata of references - the higher the quality of the Wikipedia content. I am interested in improving the quality of Wikipedia content (including metadata of references). Providing both the DOI and ISSN ensures that the reference is as complete and informative as possible. This aligns with best practices in scholarly communication, where detailed citations are valued. The ISSN ensures that the reference is complete and provides all necessary information for identifying the source, enhancing the article's academic rigor. Even when a DOI is provided in a reference, including the ISSN can still be highly beneficial for several reasons:

• The DOI system is robust, but having the ISSN as an additional identifier provides a fallback in case there are issues with the DOI link. This ensures that the reference can still be accurately traced even if the DOI is temporarily or permanently unavailable.
• Journals often publish multiple versions of articles, including online, print, and special editions. While the DOI identifies a specific article, the ISSN identifies the journal as a whole. This helps clarify the broader context of the publication and can be useful if the article exists in different formats.
• The ISSN identifies the journal, which can be important for understanding the source's credibility and context. This is particularly useful for readers who want to evaluate the quality of the journal in which the article is published, beyond just the individual article identified by the DOI. In other words, if a Wikipedia reader wants to get the ISSN number of a journal, he can do this directly from Wikipedia or must additionally go to the site where the article was published (for example, by DOI number) and search for this information there, spending additional time.
• Libraries and databases often use ISSNs to catalog and index journals. Including the ISSN in a Wikipedia reference can help integrate the citation with these systems, making it easier for users to find the journal and related articles.
• Over time, URL of the paper/journal may change, but the ISSN remains a stable identifier for the journal. This can be particularly important for historical or archival research where long-term access to sources is crucial.

Włodzimierz Lewoniewski (UEP) (talk) 05:55, 16 September 2024 (UTC)