Report cover

Front matter consists of all materials preceding the main content and provides:

• a general idea of the purpose and scope of reports;
• background about, or a context for, reports; and
• lists for finding specific chapters, headings, figures, and tables.

It also provides information needed for cataloging in bibliographic databases and digital libraries. A discussion of the purpose and scope of each element of front matter follows and suggests best practices for the location of such information.

Cover

Although considered an optional component, a cover provides physical protection for a print report and displays major metadata elements for resource discovery. Electronic versions of reports, especially in PDF, often include a cover to replicate the look of the print version. A cover identifies the report number, title, author(s), and any distribution limitations. If classified or proprietary information appears in a report, a notice on the cover indicates that such material is included. The best practices for including data elements of a report cover are as follows:

• Report number (can also be on the back cover, or on both)
• Report title and subtitle, if used (should be the same on the cover, title page, and report documentation page)
• Title and numbering of series, if the report is issued in a series (can also be on the back cover, or both)
• Author, principal investigator, editor, and/or compiler
• Publisher (the organization that assumes responsibility for publication, which may or may not be the same as the sponsoring organization)
• Date of publication (optional; can defer to the title page or to the copyright page)
• Distribution limitations
• Sponsoring organization of published research
• A bar code or other indication of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) or International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) and the price (optional). This information is usually included on the back cover of the report as well and may facilitate managing inventory.
• Technical requirements (for example, video, audio, digital)
• Subject

Legal or policy considerations of the sponsoring organization may require using additional data elements.