Overview
ISO 215:1986 - Documentation: Presentation of Contributions to Periodicals and Other Serials is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The purpose of ISO 215:1986 is to standardize the preparation and presentation of articles and other contributions submitted to scientific periodicals and serial publications, including those in applied sciences and technology. By harmonizing the requirements for manuscripts, titles, abstracts, references, and supplementary materials, ISO 215:1986 facilitates information retrieval for readers, documentation services, editors, authors, and publishers.
This standard supersedes ISO Recommendation R 215-1961 and aligns closely with other key standards in documentation. It contributes to improved access and organization of serial publication content, making it easier for information users and producers to manage, find, and use scholarly and technical literature.
Key Topics
- Preparation of Manuscripts: Guidance for authors on properly formatting titles, subtitles, abstracts, author information, and supplementary materials.
- Identification Elements: Rules for the inclusion of titles, names, addresses, dates, abstracts, keywords, and subject classification codes.
- Structure and Organization: Recommendations for clear article structure, logical flow, and consistent numbering following international best practices.
- Notation and Nomenclature: Direction on the appropriate use of technical notation, SI units, nomenclature, and symbols in line with other ISO standards.
- References and Bibliographies: Standardized citation practices and preparation of bibliographies, referencing published documents, and ensuring alignment with ISO 690.
- Footnotes, Illustrations, and Tables: Guidelines for the use, placement, and identification of footnotes, graphics, tables, and their associated captions and credits.
- Copyright and Acknowledgments: Ensures proper attribution for quoted or adapted content and outlines best practices for copyright and permissions.
- Annexes and Errata: Presentation of supplementary materials or corrections, and their proper placement in the publication.
Applications
ISO 215:1986 offers significant practical value for the following stakeholders:
- Authors: Facilitates the submission of manuscripts that meet standardized requirements, making it easier for journals and publishers to assess, process, and publish contributions.
- Editors and Publishers: Assists in drafting clear instructions for contributors, leading to uniformity in published works and enhanced clarity for readers and indexers. Enables efficient content management and retrieval in digital and print serials.
- Librarians and Documentation Services: Improves information retrieval and cataloging through consistent presentation of bibliographic elements, abstracts, and keywords.
- Academic and Research Institutions: Ensures that contributions to institutional journals conform to international best practices, supporting scholarly communication.
- Indexing and Abstracting Services: Standardized abstracts, keywords, and classifications enable accurate and efficient indexing, making scientific information more accessible.
Related Standards
ISO 215:1986 is closely integrated with several other international documentation standards, making it compatible within a broad framework for publishing and information management. Related standards include:
- ISO 8: Presentation of periodicals
- ISO 18: Contents lists of periodicals
- ISO 690: Bibliographical references - Content, form, and structure
- ISO 214: Abstracts for publications and documentation
- ISO 1000: SI units and recommendations for unit multiples
- ISO 2014 & ISO 3307: Representation of dates and times
- ISO 2145: Numbering of divisions and subdivisions in written documents
- ISO 5776: Symbols for text correction
- ISO 5966 & ISO 7144: Presentation of technical reports and theses
- ISO 233, ISO 259, ISO 7098, ISO 843: Transliteration standards for various scripts
These standards, when used together, promote clarity, consistency, and the global exchange of scientific and technical information.
Keywords: ISO 215:1986, documentation standards, periodicals, serials, manuscript preparation, scientific publishing, bibliographic references, information retrieval, academic publishing, editorial guidelines, information management.
