UAE joins UNESCO’s ISSN network

The UAE, represented by the National Library and Archives (NLA), has become the latest member of the Paris-based International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) International Centre of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The NLA today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the ISSN International Centre membership in coordination with and support of the UAE National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. The MoU was virtually signed by Abdulla Majed Al Ali, Director General of the NLA, and Dr. Gaelle Bequet, Director of the ISSN International Centre.

Al Ali expressed gratitude and anticipation for future cooperation, highlighting the importance of preserving knowledge. Dr. Gaelle Bequet emphasised that the agreement signifies a shared vision and commitment to excellence, marking a significant milestone in their collaborative efforts.

Al Ali stated that standardising the periodicals issued in the United Arab Emirates with the ISSN will ensure the standardisation of intellectual production in the country and will help the National Archives and Library to identify this cultural and knowledge product, which contributes to informing researchers, interested parties and the beneficiary public inside and outside the country about the content of these periodicals and achieving the desired benefit from them..

For her part, Dr Bequet expressed her optimism about further cooperation between the two parties, stressing that the MoU is a milestone in the course of relations between the two sides and a testament to the shared vision and commitment.

The MoU will be a starting point for hard work by all parties concerned, she added.

She affirmed that the MoU comes as a confirmation of the aspiration for excellence and commitment to achieving results that satisfy both parties in the field of inventory counting and listing of publications issued in the UAE, which in turn, enriches the knowledge of readers and researchers.

The ISSN International Centre is responsible for:- maintaining and publishing the ISSN Portal,- coordinating the activities of the ISSN National Centres, and- assigning ISSNs to international publications and publications published in countries that do not have an ISSN National Centre.

WAM