Standards Watch

ISBN Systematic Review

More standards news from Cindy Hepfer, ALA Representative to NISO (HSLcindy@buffalo.edu):

A systematic review ballot of the published standard, ISO 2108:2005, Information and documentation — International Standard Book Number (ISBN), has been presented to TC46 Ballot Advisory Group. This is an opportunity for ALA to provide feedback on the 13-digit ISBN. ALA’s vote options are Confirm (as is), Revise/Amend, Withdraw, or Abstain (from the vote). Comments are required for all votes other than Confirm. The final deadline for Cindy to vote is Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, and she asks that responses be sent to her at least one week in advanced of this final deadline.

Cindy reminds us that ALA is a voting member of NISO, and NISO is the official U.S. voting member for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee 46 on Information and Documentation. Please understand that this is not a NISO standard, but is being balloted by ISO’s TC46. 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 U.S. vote.

NOTE: Permission is granted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to electronically reproduce this draft International Standard for purpose of review and comment related to the preparation of the U.S. position, provided this notice is included. All other rights are reserved. Since the document is in a password protected area of the NISO website, Cindy cannot direct ALA members who are interested in reviewing the standard to it directly. However, ALA members interested in reviewing the standard should contact Cindy directly for a copy for review purposes.

In the absence of other recommendations, ALA will recommend that NISO vote to confirm ‘ISO 2108:2005 (ISBN) Systematic Review’ (with comments, if any).

Diane Hillmann
LITA Standards Coordinator