Abstract: A method, system, and software for creating a universal identification system for articles of printed and electronic media. In one embodiment, identification tags are printed, affixed, or otherwise attached to articles of printed media in order to stamp these articles with ID tags that conform to a standard. These media identification tags, or media IDs, are used to definitively identify, catalog, and organize articles of printed media, and are easily scanned or otherwise read by any person or any entity with the aid of a portable and inexpensive electronic device. Once scanned, media IDs can be transferred to software and/or hardware that automatically catalogs and organizes the media ID's, and provides numerous services related to management and retrieval of the media ID tags and associated articles of media. In another embodiment, identification tags are located with, or otherwise associated with articles of electronic media in order to stamp these articles with ID tags that conform to a standard.