scope:

This standard specifies how information is to be formatted on the spines of printed bindings, covers, containers, or other protective enclosures of a work. The work enclosed may be a book, an electronic medium such as computer software or videocassette, a microform, music, etc., or a combination of items such as a CD-ROM and printed text. This standard applies to commercial works as well as to material bound by a library, commercial binder, or other organization. This standard specifically excludes works that do not have a spine, such as saddle-stitched periodicals and reports.

Purpose

The purpose of this standard is to ensure, on works that have spines, a standard location for libraries and other organizations to place local data. In this way, information placed on a spine by a publisher or producer will not be obscured. The goal is for a user to see clearly all spine information: local ownership, locational, and subject information as well as publisher/producer, title, and author information.