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Results of a Survey on International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) 
Conducted by the National Diet Library, Japan 
 
Purpose 
The National Diet Library, Japan (NDL) conducted a questionnaire survey of national libraries and 
bibliographic agencies around the world to obtain detailed information on their motives for introducing 
International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) and what changes in the management of data on the authors 
of domestic publications or in the creation of bibliographic sources have come about due to the 
introduction of ISNI. 
 
Method 
The survey was conducted via an online questionnaire platform, with requests for participation sent by 
e-mail. 
 
Period 
March 17, 2021 to April 30, 2021 
 
Valid Answers 
12 (2 of which were from the same institution) 
 
Notes 
For questions 2 to 8, the number of libraries or institutions that selected each option is provided as the 
numerator of a fraction in which the denominator is the eligible respondents. For example, if the number 
of answers for a certain option is 2/4, it means that out of four eligible respondents, two chose that option 
 
 
 
1) 
Preliminary question 
Please tell us the name of the institution you are representing [Required] 
Answers 
Participation to  
ISNI 
Number of  
Answers 
British Library (BL) 
Registration Agency 
(RAG) 
1 
Casalini Libri (CL) 
RAG 
1 
KB The National Library of the Netherlands (KB) 
RAG 
1 
National Assembly Library of Korea (NAL) 
RAG 
1 
Library of Congress, USA (LC) 
Member 
1 
National Library of New Zealand (NLNZ) 
Member 
1 
The National Library of Norway (NLN) 
Member 
1 
German National Library (DNB) 
Non-member 
1 
National Library Board Singapore (NLB) 
Non-member 
1 
National Library of Australia (NLA) 
Non-member 
2 
Swiss National Library (SNL) 
Non-member 
1 
 
2) 
Question on participation in ISNI  
Does your affiliated institution participate in ISNI? [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
Yes, it is a RAG of ISNI. 
4/12 
Yes, it is a Member of ISNI. 
3/12 
No. 
5/12 
* Two answers from the NLA 
 
3) 
Questions for RAG 
A. For what reason(s) did your affiliated institution become a RAG? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 

 
 2 / 8 
To manage and promote distribution of information on creators as a 
national/regional bibliographic agency. 
4/4 
To use ISNI for copyright management within the nation/region. 
1/4 
To create authority records more efficiently. 
3/4 
To respond to the broadening scope of library collections. 
2/4 
Other (Specify) 
1/4 
 
Specific Answer for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondent 
Answer 
BL 
To work with the publishing supply chain in the UK 
 
B. What parties is your institution authorized to assign/allocate ISNIs to? (Select all that apply.) 
[Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
Persons and organizations that contributed to creating content 
published within a specific area (e.g. nation, state) 
2/4 
Persons and organizations that contributed to creating content of a 
specific type of media (e.g. books, academic texts, musical 
compositions) 
0/4 
Persons and organizations that contributed to creating content in a 
specific language 
0/4 
Other (Specify) 
3/4 
 
Specific Answers for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondents 
Answers 
NAL 
In my understanding, our library is authorized to allocate ISNIs to any persons 
and organizations. 
BL 
Persons and organizations connected to content in our collections and any 
persons and organizations who use our BL ISNI Registration Service. Bulk 
load requests can be processed via negotiation 
CL 
Persons and organizations that contributed to creating content published not 
only within a specific area 
 
C. How does your institution use ISNI identifiers and services in its products and business? (Select all 
that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
It started a new service targeting publishers, right holders, or content 
distributors. 
2/4 
It refers to data made available through the ISNI database in creating 
authority records. 
4/4 
It registers ISNI identifiers in a specific field of its catalogs. 
3/4 
It uses ISNI as institutional identifiers. 
2/4 
It has not yet started implementing ISNI in its products and business. 
0/4 
Other (Specify) 
0/4 
 
D. How are ISNIs allocated? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
ISNIs are allocated to authors and/or contributors in response to 
applications from persons and/or organizations. 
3/4 
ISNIs are allocated to authors and/or contributors in response to bulk 
requests from publishers. 
2/4 
ISNIs are allocated to authors and/or publishers of library materials 
that are within the scope of legal deposit or included in the national 
bibliography. 
2/4 
ISNIs are allocated as part of the process of creating authority records. 
2/4 

 
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Other (Specify) 
1/4 
 
Specific Answer for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondent 
Answer 
NAL 
ISNIs are mainly allocated to researchers active in Korea. 
 
E. 
Does your institution accept requests for ISNIs from individuals? [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
Yes. 
3/4 
No. 
1/4 
 
F. 
Does your institution charge fees for allocating ISNIs? [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
Yes. 
2/4 
No. 
2/4 
 
G. Does your institution cooperate with other institutions in implementing and promoting the use of 
ISNI? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
It cooperates with publishers. 
2/4 
It cooperates with other libraries with which it has formed a 
consortium. 
2/4 
It cooperates with other libraries but has not formed a consortium. 
3/4 
It does not cooperate with other institutions. 
0/4 
Other (Specify) 
3/4 
 
Specific Answers for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondents 
Answers 
NAL 
It cooperates with research institutes and university libraries with which it has 
formed sort of a consortium. 
BL 
ISNI Music Consultation Group and ISNI Libraries Consultation Group 
CL 
PCC 
 
H. If your institution has formed or joined a consortium, please tell us why. 
Respondents 
Answers 
NAL 
Sharing data and promoting the use of ISNIs. 
BL 
Training, support and developing best practice for legal deposit workflows (6 
legal deposit libraries in the UK and Ireland who have a shared cataloguing 
programme) 
CL 
Casalini supports the SVDE initiative to promote the sharing of data and 
services according to the linked open data paradigm 
 
I. 
If your institution has joined VIAF, why does it participate in both VIAF and ISNI? (Select all that 
apply.) 
Options 
Number of Answers 
The authors and/or contributors that your institution allocates ISNI 
identifiers to are different from those your institution creates authority 
data about, which are to be provided to VIAF. 
0/4 
To use data only accessible to ISNI RAG. 
1/4 
To increase the quality of the institution’s own authority data by 
participating in both ISNI and VIAF. 
0/4 
Other (Specify) 
1/4 
 
Specific Answer for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondent 
Answer 

 
 4 / 8 
BL 
Can't work directly with VIAF as it only harvests data whereas ISNI is an 
interactive database. 
 
4) 
Questions for Members 
A. For what reason(s) did your affiliated institution become a Member? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
To manage information on creators as a national/regional 
bibliographic agency. 
2/3 
To use ISNI for copyright management within the nation/region. 
0/3 
To create authority records more efficiently. 
1/3 
To respond to the broadening scope of library collections. 
1/3 
Other (Specify) 
0/3 
 
B. Does your institution plan to become a RAG in the future? If yes, please tell us why. 
No respondent answered “yes” to this question. 
 
C. How does your institution use ISNI identifiers and services in its products and business? (Select all 
that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
It started a new service targeting publishers, right holders, or content 
distributors. 
0/3 
It refers to data made available through ISNI databases in creating 
authority records. 
1/3 
It registers ISNI identifiers in a specific field of its catalogs. 
0/3 
It uses ISNI as institutional identifiers. 
0/3 
It has not yet started implementing ISNI in its products and business. 
2/3 
Other (Specify) 
0/3 
 
D. If your institution has joined VIAF, why does it participate in both VIAF and ISNI? (Select all that 
apply.) 
Options 
Number of Answers 
The authors and/or contributors that your institution allocates ISNI 
identifiers to are different from those your institution creates authority 
data about, which are to be provided to VIAF. 
0/3 
To use data only accessible to ISNI Members. 
0/3 
To increase the quality of the institution’s own authority data by 
participating in both ISNI and VIAF. 
3/3 
Other (Specify) 
0/3 
 
5) 
Questions for non-members 
A. Has there been any consideration of participating in ISNI in the future at your affiliated institution? 
[Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
It is considering becoming a RAG. 
0/5 
It is considering becoming a Member. 
1/5 
No consideration has been made. 
2/5 
* One answer from the NLA 
It decided not to participate. 
2/5 
* One answer from the NLA 
 
B. Why is your institution considering of participating in ISNI? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
To manage and promote distribution of information on creators as a 
national/regional bibliographic agency. 
1/1 
To use ISNI for copyright management within the nation/region. 
0/1 
To create authority records more efficiently. 
1/1 

 
 5 / 8 
To respond to the broadening scope of library collections. 
1/1 
Other (Specify) 
1/1 
 
Specific Answer for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondent 
Answer 
DNB 
We'll have a close cooperation with a Registration Agency / Service Provider in 
the book industry for registration of new ISNIs 
 
C. For what reason(s) is your institution not a RAG or Member of ISNI? (Select all that apply.) 
[Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
Another institution(s) in the same field or area is already 
participating in ISNI. 
2/4 
* One answer from the NLA 
It already participates in other project(s) with a similar concept. 
1/4 
Other (Specify) 
1/4 
* One answer from the NLA 
 
Specific Answer for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondent 
Answer 
NLA 
Benefits to our user community do not equal the value of resourcing required 
to support participation 
 
D. Does your institution use ISNI services? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
It refers to information made public by ISNI in creating authority 
records. 
3/5 
* One answer from the NLA 
It registers ISNI identifiers in a specific field of its catalogs. 
0/5 
It does not use ISNI. 
1/5 
Other (Specify) 
1/5 
* One answer from the NLA 
 
Specific Answer for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondent 
Answer 
NLA 
ISNI is accepted from participating partner libraries but the number is very 
small 
 
6) 
Questions on ISNI implementation 
A. What did you gain by implementing ISNI? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
The data creating process became more efficient due to sharing the 
same identifiers with libraries, publishers and distributors. 
3/7 
It became possible to uniquely identify authors and contributors of 
collections for which authority control had not been thorough. 
4/7 
It became easier to convert the institution’s own data into Linked 
Open Data. 
2/7 
Copyright management became easier. 
1/7 
Other (Specify) 
3/7 
 
Specific Answers for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondents 
Answers 
BL (RAG) 
All processes not fully implemented yet but this is the direction we are 
travelling in. 
LC (Member) 
no notable gains so far 
NLNZ 
(Member) 
We have not yet had the staffing capacity in our metadata team to consider 
how best to implement ISNI 
 

 
 6 / 8 
B. How is ISNI-related work staffed? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
We added new staff dedicated to work related to ISNI membership as 
a RAG or Member. 
3/7 
We added new staff dedicated to work related to ISNI as the ISNI 
Quality Team. 
2/7 
ISNI-related work was added to the responsibilities of an existing job. 
4/7 
Other (Specify) 
3/7 
 
Specific Answers for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondents 
Answers 
NLN (Member) 
We have so far only added ISNIs to existing records in the Authority File by 
exporting data to the ISNI database. 
LC (Member) 
no changes to staffing to handle ISNI 
NLNZ 
(Member) 
It was hoped to add responsibility for this to the work of our Name Authority 
Record Co-ordinator, but that person does not have capacity to undertake 
additional work. 
 
C. Were there any new works brought up by participating in ISNI? If yes, please specify.  
Respondents 
Answers 
NAL (RAG) 
To establish a new process and system for allocating ISNIs and handling 
data. 
BL (RAG) 
Formed the Quality Team as a Founding Member to provide services to the 
ISNI-IA. Quality Team duties such as answering user queries, training other 
members, data sampling 
CL (RAG) 
Enhanced and improved our cataloging module (Olisuite/Wecat of @Cult) 
NLN (Member) 
Yes, extracting records from the Authority File and sending them to the ISNI 
database. 
LC (Member) 
No 
 
D. How many staff members are involved in ISNI-related work? [Required] 
Respondents 
Answers 
KB (RAG) 
10 
NAL (RAG) 
One and a half 
BL (RAG) 
9 
CL (RAG) 
We started with 3 but we plan to increase to 6 
NLN (Member) 
3, but only part time. 
LC (Member) 
none 
NLNZ 
(Member) 
The plans (not yet implemented) were for one staff member to have this 
added to their responsibilities. 
 
E. 
What were the difficulties in implementing ISNI? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
Adequate staffing for handling ISNI-related work 
3/7 
Establishing the ISNI-related business and operations 
2/7 
Staff training 
1/7 
System development/refurbishment 
4/7 
Other (Specify) 
2/7 
 
Specific Answers for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondents 
Answers 
NLN(Member) 
No 
LC(Member) 
no formal implementation, yet 
 
F. 
Are there any skills and competencies that are required in performing ISNI-related work? If yes, 

 
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please specify. 
Respondents 
Answers 
KB (RAG) 
Yes, only fully skilled cataloguers on authority files are able to perform 
ISNI-related work 
NAL (RAG) 
Understanding of authority files. 
BL (RAG) 
Use of ISNI systems, manipulation of data, managing linked data records 
CL (RAG) 
We have selected metadata expert catalogers 
NLN (Member) 
We have so far only added ISNIs to existing records in the Authority File by 
exporting data to the ISNI database. 
 
G. What kind of costs were incurred in implementing ISNI in addition to the membership fee? (Select 
all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
System development and operation costs 
5/7 
Consortium operation costs 
0/7 
Additional labor costs 
3/7 
None 
2/7 
Other (Specify) 
0/7 
 
H. What do you consider as future challenges in using ISNI? 
Respondents 
Answers 
NAL (RAG) 
To keep data quality high with no duplicate assignments and no wrong 
merged records. 
BL (RAG) 
Developing and maturing collaborative work across ISNI member networks 
CL (RAG) 
Strengthen and shorten the chain from author to publisher 
NLN (Member) 
Developing a method for automatic update of new ISNIs from our Authority 
File. To be developed. 
LC (Member) 
cost of staff involvement 
NLNZ 
(Member) 
For us it is finding any capacity to explore and implement the opportunities 
provided by ISNI. If we cannot find this capacity we will need to reconsider 
our membership of ISNI. 
 
7) 
Questions on communication 
A. In case of sending inquiries on the content of data, is the contact information clear? [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
Yes. 
7/7 
No. 
0/7 
 
B. To whom and how do you communicate requests for improvements in operations and systems? 
[Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
Requests are sent to designated contact points depending on the type 
of request. 
5/7 
Requests are sent to consultation groups. 
1/7 
Other (Specify) 
2/7 
 
Specific Answers for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondents 
Answers 
LC (Member) 
none, yet 
NLNZ(Member) 
We haven't sent any. 
 
8) 
Questions on authority record creation at your institution 
A. For authors of what type of materials are name authority records created at your institution? (Select 
all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 

 
 8 / 8 
Books 
5/5 
* Two answers from the NLA 
Periodicals 
4/5 
* One answer from the NLA 
Articles and journals 
2/5 
Audio-visual 
materials 
3/5 
* One answer from the NLA 
Other (Specify) 
3/5 
 
Specific Answer for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondents 
Answers 
NLA 
Manuscripts, Pictures, Oral History recordings, Maps 
SNL 
Pictures 
NLB 
Notable local artists and personalities 
 
B. If there is any document on the scope of materials for which authority records should be created, 
please let us know.  
Respondents 
Answers 
SNL 
Works, Places, Corporate Bodies 
NLB 
NLB's Knowledge Organisation Systems Policy document 
 
C. Where is the created authority data distributed? (Select all that apply.) [Required] 
Options 
Number of Answers 
VIAF 
3/5 
Public libraries 
3/5 
* One answer from the NLA 
Academic libraries 
3/5 
* One answer from the NLA 
Authority records are made available for free through websites 
and systems. 
5/5 
* Two answers from the NLA 
Other (Specify) 
1/5 
* One answer from the NLA 
 
Specific Answer for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondent 
Answer 
NLA 
Trove.nla.gov.au 
 
D. Please name any person and/or organization identifiers other than ISNI that are registered in your 
bibliographic or authority record at your institution. 
Options 
Number of Answers 
ORCID 
3/5 
National standard identifiers 
3/5 
Identifiers assigned by publishers 
1/5 
Other (Specify) 
2/5 
 
Specific Answers for “Other (Specify)” 
Respondents 
Answers 
NLA 
Information could come into our catalogue via publisher created metadata 
NLB 
Library of Congress Name Authorities, ISBN, ISSN, ISMN, VIAF