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Another difference is the milieu (peer sources)—ISNI contributors are not only other libraries but also property rights organizations, publishers, information aggregators, etc.) so we are placed in a much larger/global environment. (In ISNI, "source" refers to the contributing member organization (e.g., HARV), not the part of an information resource from which information is transcribed or recorded.)
It is important to remember that because ISNI is not an authority file, we are not trying to create a unique access point but an
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identifier for an entity that can have different forms of name
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, none of which is considered the preferred or authorized form of name.
What is an ISNI?
ISNI identifies public identities of parties:
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Note that ISNIs identify the Public Identities of Parties such as author, composers, cartographers, performers, academic/scientific authors, publishers, etc. ISNI does not include works/expressions, subjects.
An ISNI =consists of a 16 digit number (including check digit)
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- Public view=(www.isni.org) no need for a user ID; includes only records with status “Assigned”
- Member view=as a member, the entire database is available, but some data from some sources is considered "private" and cannot be seen. Members have maintenance capability via the web interface
- QT view=access to a higher level of maintenance (via web interface and WinIBW client)
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Help: offers detailed information about the search options and how best to use them. Also offers explanation of the search terms indexes in the drop-down menu (APH, CN, etc.)
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It can be helpful to experiment with the searching options on your own to get an idea of different results based on different search terms/combinations. See also ISNI Search: Guidelines and Examples: http://www.isni.org/filedepot_download/139/470
- Use search term index APH (any phrase): to search by forename or surname or by ISNI number.
- Use search term index NA (name): to search for a person: enter surname forename (comma is optional); to search for an organization, enter name (or name of parent organization, child organization)
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- Type of id: person;
- Status:
- if assigned: 16-digit ISNI number
- if provisional: Record no. (click on either one to see the results)
- Creation class (similar to RDA content type)
- Creation role (clicking on any one of the links takes you to the record that is coded for that class or role)
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ISNI is designed to uniquely identify , an entity; it is not intended to provide access to comprehensive information about a public identity. It can provide links to sources where detailed information is held, and provides a link for occurrences of the public identity across databases on the web.
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- Name is required! (even when editing and the name is the same as the name already supplied by another source)
- This form of name will appear as the 700 field in the record
- Forename and surname as found in the source, plus other information that you have
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- Filled in fields will be assigned a $$2 source code in subfield $2 associated with the sign-on of the user
- Fields with a + sign are repeatable.; click on the sign to open another blank field
- Where there are codes for an element, these are indicated by a pull down box (Creation role) or b the “i” Information icon next to a field that includes contains information about the data that can be entered.
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Work: Titles of works created by person (as found in the source of information you have):
Name Variant: Additional names as found in sourceknown to the ISNI member providing the information
- This form will appear as a 400 in the record
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General note: messages for the ISNI quality team, such as information that should be deleted from a record, records that should be merged or separated: i.e. challenge the algorithm…., etc.
When completed, click SAVE Changes. (Not necessary to Save after adding information in each tab)
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- To change record status from provisional to assigned (i.e. establish the identity);
- To provide additional info about the identity that will help to distinguish it from other identities.
How to enhance another institution's record
- Find existing record created by other source
- Check record status: provisional/assigned
- Add source (XXXXinstitutional identifier (e.g. HARV) and the Name; Save. This may be sufficient. If record status is still provisional, then
- Add its web page as additional information, for example
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- Find existing record > (Related; Relationship)
- Add relationship. If related identity is also in ISNI, follow the prompts to:
- search; compare/choose; add see also or colleague/collaborator relationship; link); Save
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Also make a General note when you have found a mixed identity (names of different persons in one ISNI record), or another error you wish to see corrected.
See also & documentation
See For beginners, see in particular the documents noted with "useful!" on the ISNI documentation page.