Here is another interesting item in the current wave of important standards activities emanating from ISO, of potential interest to LITA members. According to the announcement that voting members received, “This Technical Report describes means by which it may be demonstrated, at any time, that the contents of a specific electronic object created or existing within a computer system has not changed since it was created within the system or imported into it.”
Cindy Hepfer, ALA Voting Representative to NISO, adds some illustrative brief excerpts from the (copyrighted) introduction:
“Increasingly, information that has been created, captured and stored electronically is used as evidence of business activities. Such evidence might be required in contract discussions, or in courts of law. This Technical Report defines recommended practices for electronic storage of business or other information in image form. As such, complying with its recommendations is of value to organizations even when the trustworthiness of the stored information is not being challenged …â€
Cindy reminds us that this is not a NISO standard, but one that is being balloted by ISO. ALA is not voting on the standard itself but rather is providing feedback to NISO as to whether it should recommend approval or disapproval to AIIM (Association for Information and Image Management). NISO will review and consider the feedback that it receives prior to submitting the US vote. Our voting options are: Yes, No or Abstain. No or Abstain votes require comments (explanations). Cindy needs vote recommendations and comments by Sept. 17, 2008.
ALA members interested in reviewing the standard should apply to Cindy (HSLcindy@buffalo.edu) directly for a copy of the document (please confirm to her that you’re an ALA member, and copy me on the request, please: metadata.maven@gmail.com).
Diane Hillmann
LITA Standards Coordinator