bibliographic

Bibliographic is an adjective relating to bibliography, the systematic description, organization, and study of books and other documents. In library science and information management, bibliographic work involves creating and maintaining records that describe sources in a standardized way so they can be located, identified, and cited. The term can refer both to the field of bibliography and to the metadata used to describe sources in catalogs and indexes.

Bibliographic records typically include elements such as author, title, publication information, edition, format, language, subjects, and identifiers like ISBNs or ISSNs. They are organized according to cataloging rules and metadata standards—such as MARC, Dublin Core, and FRBR—that support discovery, interoperability, and the construction of bibliographies and catalogs. Accurate bibliographic data enables reliable search results and helps establish relationships among works, editions, and translations.

Bibliographic practice also encompasses the preparation of bibliographies in scholarly works, and the use of bibliographic citation styles to format references. Major styles include APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard, among others. Annotated bibliographies extend entries with descriptive or evaluative notes, providing context and guidance for further reading.