 While there may be many records for 'John Smith', it is not always clear which record refers to the specific 'John Smith' that is required.If an author has published under several different names or pseudonyms, each such name will receive its own ISNI.ISNI can be used by libraries and archives when sharing catalogue information; for more precise searching for information online and in databases, and it can aid the management of rights across national borders and in the digital environment.