TS 1213

TS 1213 is a withdrawn standard focused on how directories for libraries and information/documentation centres should be organised. Its subject is the consistent presentation of basic institutional information so that users can compare sources in a common format and reach essential details more easily.

What a directory is expected to organise

The title and scope summary indicate that the standard is concerned with directories of these institutions and their databases. In general technical terms, such directories gather core identifying data such as the institution name, address, contact details, subject coverage, access conditions, and similar descriptive elements. The purpose is not merely to list institutions, but to present information in a structured and comparable way.

Why this matters for documentation centres

Libraries and information/documentation centres can play different roles in access, referral, and interinstitutional cooperation. When directory structures are defined consistently, terminology becomes more uniform and database records are easier to manage. The value of TS 1213 is that it provides a reference framework for presenting this kind of institutional information in an orderly way.

This record is identified as equivalent to ISO/R 2146:1972 and was adopted in 1972 before being withdrawn in 2021. It therefore reflects an early international approach to structuring directories for libraries and information centres.