雖然從理論上來講,任何一條信息都可進行規範控制,如個人或企業的名稱、統一標題、系列和主題[8]。而圖書館編目通常側重於作者姓名和書名。雖然它們通常單獨考慮,不過美國國會圖書館的主題詞(英語:Library of Congress Subject Headings)所起到的作用和規範控制類似。隨着時間的推移和信息的變化促使這些信息重組的要求會越來越明顯。根據一個觀點,規範控制的宗旨並不在於創建一個天衣無縫的系統,而在於在幫助用戶尋找信息的前提下不斷努力適應變化提供更為「結構和秩序化」的內容[11]。
^道格拉斯·哈珀. auctor辞源检索. 在線詞源詞典. 2013 [2013-07-19](英語). author (n)—c.1300, autor "father," from O.Fr.auctor, acteor "author, originator, creator, instigator (12c., Mod.Fr.auteur), from L.auctorem (nom.auctor) ... -- authority (n.)— early 13c., autorite "book or quotation that settles an argument," from O.Fr. auctorité "authority, prestige, right, permission, dignity, gravity; the Scriptures" (12c.; Mod.Fr. autorité), ... (see author). ...——註:author和authority的辭源如auctor或autor、autorite都來自13世紀。
^authority (control). Memidex. December 7, 2012 [2012-12-07](英語). Etymology ... autorite "book or quotation that settles an argument", from Old French auctorité...
^authority. 韋氏詞典. 2012-11-07 [2012-12-07](英語). See "Origin of authority" -- Middle English auctorite, from Anglo-French auctorité, from Latin auctoritat-, auctoritas opinion, decision, power, from auctor First Known Use: 13th century...
^Block, Rick J. 1999. "Authority Control: What It Is and Why It Matters.", [2006-03-30]
^ 12.012.1Cataloguing authority control policy. 澳大利亞國家圖書館. 2012-11-25 [2013-10-29]. (原始內容存檔於2013-01-13) (英語). bhe primary purpose of authority control is to assist the catalogue user in locating items of interest.