• record of an independent bibliographical unit - which identifies the bibliographic unit itself;
• record of component part - which identifies both the analytical bibliographical item and the source where it is located.

• To ensure the international exchange of records;
• To overcome the language bareer in the perception of the records;
• To promote the convertion of bibliographic records into machine-readable format.

• Standardized identification of bibliographic records worldwide by implementing uniform regulations;
• Cooperation of bibliographical institutions on the basis of uniform regulations in compilation of bibliographic records.

The regulations of International Standard of Bibliographic Description concerns the records compiled by national bibliographical institutions and other institutions of cataloguing both in printed and electronical format. They cover the maximum of descriptive information necessary for bibliographical work. They include elements essential to one or several spheres of bibliographical work, but are not necessary to all. The national bibliographical institution which is responsible for compilation of every single record of published material in the particular country, includes in the record all compulsory elements defined by the standard of the bibliographical record, which are applied to the bibliographical item. Separate elements are defined as optional and their incorporation in the record is the responsibility of the bibliographical institution. Cataloguing institutions which do not compile records for international exchange, are given more freedom in the choice of compulsory or optional elements of the record, recording them in the order defined by the standard and observing the punctuation defined by the standard. 

In accordance with the ISBD standard the compiled record is only a part of full bibliographic record. The regulations of ISBD standard do not include all elements comprising full bibliographic record, e.g. head of the record, uniform titles and others. The usage of these elements is usually defined by cataloguing regulations. 

International Standards of Bibliographical Description are elaborated by IFLA and they are adopted worldwide. In Latvia the adoptation of standards of bibliographical records is carried out by Technical Committee of Library Work and Bibliographical Standardization in cooperation with the Standardization Department of the National Library of Latvia, in order the libraries in Latvia could create bibliographic records in accordance with the principles of international practice. 

Active standardization work in Latvia began in the 90ies of the 20th century. In 1994 the first Latvian standard LVS 50 “Bibliographic Record of a Document” was published (on the basis of ISBD(G)). In 1997 the Technical Committee of Library Work and Bibliographical Standardization, founded after the initiative of the National Library of Latvia, promoted further development of standardization, setting the adoptation of International Standard of Bibliographical Description as a priority.
In 1998 the standard LVS 90 “Bibliographic Record: General Principles” was adopted (on the basis of the revised ISBD (G)). In 2000 the adoptation of all International Standards of Bibliographic Description (ISBD group) was finished with the financial support of the Soros Foundation-Latvia.