As a follow-on to my earlier message, here is the second group of standards coming up for voting pool formation for which our ALA Voting Representative to NISO, Cindy Hepfer, has requested feedback. Again, I think the best strategy is to quote the gist of Cindy’s message in full. Group 2: Formation of Voting Pools for CCM Standard Reaffirmations This is the second group of standards due for five-year reviews for which NISO will be issuing ballots. In accordance with NISO procedures, we are offering you the option of joining the voting pool for five standards that are under the responsibility of the Content and Collection Management (CCM) Topic Committee. This is NOT the reaffirmation ballot — the current ballot is only to form the voting pools. ALA may choose any or all of the standards listed below. Joining the voting pool will allow ALA to vote on the standard…
Category: Standards Watch
NISO Voting Pools, Should ALA Participate?
Cindy Hepfer, the ALA Voting Representative to NISO, has informed us that a new ballot has been presented to NISO Voting Members. Because of the importance of this message, I’m going to quote Cindy’s message in full. The text of this ballot is as follows: ‘Group 1: Formation of Voting Pools for CCM Standard Reaffirmations’ NISO periodically issues ballots for a number of NISO standards that are due for five-year reviews. In accordance with NISO procedures, they are offering voting members the option of joining the voting pool for five of those standards, that are under the responsibility of the Content and Collection Management (CCM) Topic Committee. [Full disclosure: I’m a member of the CCM Topic Committee–Diane]. This is NOT the reaffirmation ballot — the current ballot is only to form the voting pools. ALA may choose any or all of the standards listed below. Joining the voting pool will…
Two new ISO items: Terminology markup and Statistical data and Metadata Exchange
Cindy Hepfer, ALA Voting representative to NISO, has forwarded two additional items for comment. First is a systematic review ballot of ISO 116642 : 2003, Computer applications in terminology –Terminological markup framework. She notes that our vote options on this ballot are Confirm (as is), Revise/Amend, Withdraw (the standard), or Abstain (from the vote). Comments are required for all votes other than Confirm. The scope statement in the standard states: ‘This International Standard specifies a framework designed to provide guidance on the basic principles for representing data recorded in terminological data collections. This framework includes a meta-model and methods for describing specific terminological markup languages (TMLs) expressed in XML. The mechanisms for implementing constraints in a TML are defined in this International Standard, but not the specific constraints for individual TMLs, except for the three TMLs defined in Annexes B to D.†“This International Standard is designed to support the…
ISO/DIS 12620: Terminology and other language and content resources
The ALA Voting Representative to NISO, Cindy Hepfer, has passed on a request for comment with a very short review turnaround. ISO/DIS 12620, Terminology and other language and content resources–Specification of data categories and management of a Data Category Registry for language resources is out for ballot and Cindy needs comments by this Friday (yes, Friday, Oct. 17). She sent it out a week ago, right after she got the notification from NISO, but it hit my inbox while I was down for the count, virally speaking, so most of the delay is my fault–mea culpa! From Cindy’s mail: “The scope note in the draft standard reads as follows: “This International Standard provides guidelines concerning constraints related to the implementation of a Data Category Registry (DCR) applicable to all types of language resources, e.g., terminological, lexicographical, corpus-based, machine translation, etc. It specifies mechanisms for creating, selecting and maintaining data categories,…
Electronic document file format for long-term preservation–Part 1: Use of PDF 1.4
Cindy Hepfer, ALA Voting Representative to NISO, reports to us that there is an ongoing systematic review of the published standard, ISO 19005-1, Document management: Electronic document file format for long-term preservation–Part 1: Use of PDF 1.4 (PDF/A-1). She points out that the intent for ISO 19005 was to have a “family” of standards, allowing the creation of future parts, which can provide compatibility with future versions of the underlying PDF specification without rendering Part 1 of the document, or applications based on PDF Version 1.4, obsolete. Currently there are two other parts in development: ISO 19005-2 which will be based upon ISO 32000-1 (PDF 1.7) as well as ISO 19005-3 which will address electronic documents containing dynamic media (movies, sounds, 3D, etc.). 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…
ISO/PDTR 15801, Information stored electronically – Recommendations for trustworthiness
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…
For Specialists: Thai Transliteration
A systematic review ballot of the published standard, ISO 11940, Information and documentation – Transliteration of Thai has been announced by NISO. “Since there are fewer Roman characters than Thai characters, diacritical marks, punctuation marks, and a combination of two Roman characters, or a digraph, are needed to represent one Thai character.” Cindy Hepfer, ALA Voting Representative to NISO, reminds us that our vote options are: Confirm (as is), Revise/Amend, Withdraw (the standard), or Abstain (from the vote). Comments are required for all votes other than Confirm. 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 the feedback that it receives prior to submitting the US vote. ALA members interested in reviewing the standard should apply directly to Cindy at HSLcindy@buffalo.edu (please confirm to her that you’re an…
ISO 8777:1993, Commands for Interactive Text Searching
According to the announcement forwarded by Cindy Hepfer, ALA Voting Representative to NISO, “This International Standard specifies a basic set of commands for the interactive search of retrieval systems data and the types of response expected from the processing System. lt is intended for use by designers and users of information retrieval Systems, including computer-based library catalogues and computer-based database access and search facilities.” Cindy reminds us that our vote options are: Confirm (as is), Revise/Amend, Withdraw (the standard), or Abstain (from the vote). Comments are required for all votes other than Confirm. ALA is not voting on the standard itself but rather is providing feedback to NISO as to whether to approve or disapprove the standard. ALA members interested in reviewing the standard should apply directly to Cindy at HSLcindy@buffalo.edu (please confirm to her that you’re an ALA member, and copy me on the request, please: metadata.maven@gmail.com). Deadline for…
Conversion and Migration of Digital Records–New ISO Work Item
NISO has received a ballot for a new ISO TC46 work item/project, and Cindy Hepfer, ALA Voting representative to NISO, would like some feedback from ALA members. The project in question is ISO TC46/SC11 New work item proposal: Digital records conversion and migration process. This is an excellent opportunity for LITA members to have an impact at the early stages of standards development. The summary from the announcement states: “This proposed standard will outline the program components, planning issues, recordkeeping requirements, and procedures for the conversion and migration of digital records so as to preserve the integrity of such records as evidence of business transactions. This standard is intended only for use in the conversion and migration of data that is to be preserved as digital records. This document does not address procedures for the digitization of records held in paper form.” The purpose and justification provided in the work…
Information System for Electronic Records Preservation—Another new ISO work item
Note that this item has a very short time window for comments–Sept. 24, 2008. Cindy Hepfer, ALA Voting representative to NISO, reports to us on a proposed new work item for a standard on Electronic archiving — Specifications concerning the design and the operation of an information system for electronic records preservation. The proposal includes a matrix placing this proposed standard in context with other existing standards and projects, including the TC46 project: ISO/PDTR 26102, Records management — Requirements for long term preservation of electronic records. Cindy says, “Recommending a “Yes” vote indicates you are in favor of the project. A “No” vote means you think the project should not be pursued. Comments are required for a No vote. While we are not required to nominate an expert for this working group (if the project is approved), we have the option of doing so. If anyone wants to work on…