Chronology Section
DAISY’s book-structure guidance lists chronology as a possible front-matter component. A chronology is useful when temporal sequence helps readers navigate a historical, biographical, or otherwise time-dependent work; location and labeling remain edition decisions.
A chronology section presents events in time order to help readers orient themselves. It can be structured as front matter or elsewhere depending on the work and publishing system.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
["Do not treat front-matter placement as mandatory; choose placement based on reading function, publisher practice, and format."]
Further guidance
Placement
["DAISY includes chronology among possible front-matter elements, while real books may place chronologies in other structural positions."]
Practical Application
Use a chronology when a time-ordered sequence materially helps readers orient themselves in a history, biography, case narrative, or other time-dependent work. Keep entries concise, consistently dated, and synchronized with the main text; place the chronology according to the publisher’s front-matter/body structure rather than assuming one universal location.
Purpose
["Use a chronology when a time-ordered sequence gives readers useful orientation before or alongside the main text."]
Reader Check
Does the chronology add navigation value beyond what the table of contents and narrative already provide, and are its dates/events consistent with the body?
Worked Example
A biography might list key dates and events in a front-matter chronology so readers can locate major periods before entering the narrative.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- DAISY Structure Guidelines — Front Matter (opens in a new tab)DAISY Consortium · DAISY structural guidance listing chronology and other possible front-matter information objects