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Index to South African Periodicals

The Index to South African periodicals, commonly known as ISAP, is a subject index of articles in periodicals published in South Africa. On-line entries date back to 1919.

The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) compile and publish ISAP in terms of the National Library Act, 92 of 1998.

ISAP is an acronym for the Index to South African periodicals. It is a subject index to articles in periodicals published in South Africa.

Indexing of research journals form the main part of ISAP. A number of periodicals on general and technical level (e.g. SA food review, Computing SA) and some popular magazines (e.g. Drum, Sarie) are also indexed for ISAP.

Periodicals which are used in schools by learners and facilitators (e.g. South African journal of education, EnviroKids) were added for indexing in consultation with the Gauteng Department of Education.

ISAP went online in 1992. On-line entries now date back to 1919. The database is regularly updated with incoming records which the NLSA supplies on contract to database providers, e.g. Sabinet (South African Bibliographic and Information Network) and NISC (National Inquiry Services Centre).

ISAP has a record of being 
the most used indexing database on Sabinet, 
and the most used database 
on NISC’s South African Studies CD-ROM, 
which is made available internationally.

ISAP Online

The NLSA’s own internet version of the ISAP database was launched in September 2000 as ISAPOnline.

The database contains abstracts and bibliographic information on articles in more than 800 South African journals and periodicals. Topics are mainly specialised and scientific.

To view a list of the titles that are indexed, click here .

A limited number of general and popular periodicals are included for use on school level. Articles are selected for their research and use value.

ISAP Online subscribers have access to records with full bibliographic detail.

Non-subscribers may search, but won't be able to see full bibliographic detail.

All users can order at a fee copies of complete articles from the National Library's Information Services, email: info@nlsa.ac.za

Subscribe by completing an application form.