TS 12746

TS 12746 is a form standard dealing with the definition, class and properties of the collecting form used for library entrance cards, together with provisions on sampling, inspection, testing, and the way it is put on the market. In library and information work, such forms are used to organize personal and administrative records; this standard focuses on the form’s structural and use-related characteristics.

Role of the form in library administration

In general technical context, library entrance cards or similar collecting forms are record-keeping tools used to collect reader information in a structured way and to support standardized administrative procedures. Important design concerns include readability, consistency in completion, and ease of later processing. In this kind of documentation, the terms “class” and “properties” usually refer to the form’s intended use, physical layout, and distinguishing characteristics.

What this standard addresses

• Defines the form and its library-use context.
• Addresses how classes and properties are identified.
• Refers to sampling, inspection, and testing processes.
• Includes the general mode of putting the product on the market.

This document should be understood as a standard for the general character of library forms rather than as a detailed content prescription for every field on the card. In library applications, form standardization helps different institutions handle the same transaction in a similar way and supports orderly record management.

TS 12746 is a withdrawn standard, but it remains a useful technical reference for understanding the formal and functional features of forms used for library entrance cards.