Standards Watch

Guidelines for Bibliographic References and Citations

We have another standard out for ballot, forwarded for our comments by Cindy Hepfer, ALA Voting representative to NISO. This one is for the Draft International Standard version of edition 3 of ISO/DIS 690, Guidelines for bibliographic references and citations to information resources.

The scope note in the draft standard reads as follows: “This International Standard makes recommendations for the preparation of references and citations in Latin scripts in works that are not themselves primarily bibliographical. It applies to references and citations to all kinds of information resource, such as monographs, serials, contributions, patents, cartographic materials, electronic information resources (including computer software and data bases), music, recorded sound, prints, photographs, graphic and audiovisual works, and moving images. It does not apply to machine-parsable citations. This document does not prescribe a particular style of reference or citation. The examples used in this document are not prescriptive as to style and punctuation. Annex A and B indicate the relevant clause(s) of this International Standard.”

This opportunity may be your last to make substantive comments to this standard. If there is 100% approval, the standard can go directly to publication. As usual in these cases, ALA is not voting on the standard itself but rather providing feedback to NISO concerning their vote. As this standard is very much within the library realm, ALA member comments will likely carry some weight.

Cindy notes that 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. ALA members interested in reviewing the standard should apply directly to Cindy at HSLcindy@buffalo.edu and verify their membership in ALA. I ask that those requesting a copy of the standard from Cindy copy me on their request (metadata.maven@gmail.com) so that I can keep track of how these notices are used.

Cindy’s deadline for comments is Monday Feb. 23, 2009.

Diane I. Hillmann
LITA Standards Coordinator