Standards Watch

Identifying libraries

Our ever-alert ALA Representative to NISO, Cindy Hepfer, has informed us that ISO/FDIS 15511, International Standard identifier for libraries and related organizations (ISIL) is now available for ballot.

From the ballot text;

“An ISIL identifies an organization, i.e. a library, an archive, a museum or a related organization, or one of its subordinate units, which is responsible for an action or service in an informational environment (e.g. creation of machine-readable information), throughout its life. It can be used to identify the originator or holder of a resource (e.g. library material or collection in an archive). It is intended to have a minimum impact on already existing systems.”

As usual, ALA is not voting on the standard itself but rather is providing feedback to NISO as to whether to approve or disapprove the standard. NISO will review and consider this feedback prior to submitting the US vote. Permission is granted by the American National Standards Institute to reproduce this International Standard for the purpose of review and comment related to the preparation of a US position, PROVIDED THIS NOTICE IS INCLUDED. ALL OTHER RIGHTS ARE RESERVED.

Any ALA member wishing to see a copy of this draft standard for the purpose of offering comments prior to the deadline may contact Cindy directly (HSLcindy@buffalo.edu) — please be sure to let her know you are an ALA member. I’d appreciate it if you’d also copy me on your request, so we know how much interest there is in this standard (metadata.maven@gmail.com). Your deadline for comments to Cindy is Monday, Aug. 24, 2009.

Diane Hillmann
LITA Standards Coordinator