Standard Spotlight: ANSI/NISO Z39.7: Information Services and Use: Metrics & statistics for libraries and information providers — Data Dictionary
Standard Spotlight: ANSI/NISO Z39.7: Information Services and Use: Metrics & statistics for libraries and information providers — Data Dictionary
Z39.7 is the only NISO standard available as an online data dictionary and is the first NISO standard to be continuously maintained and updated. As a member of the standing committee for Z39.7, I am admittedly very familiar with the data dictionary. What has not been clear to me is the reach of this online standard beyond the standing committee and the library research community
In an effort to hear from practicing librarians, I sent out an e-mail request to librarians from different types of libraries in Massachusetts. In my e-mail I reminded them that the data collected on the state and national levels, primarily through the state and federal agencies, is based on the definitions in the NISO data dictionary—something I suspect many of them didn’t know.
This is the first in a new column series highlighting how NISO standards are used. Many standards are hidden “under the covers” of products or built into infrastructure or services, so that the end user is unaware the standard even exists. Some standards have been around so long they are taken for granted and don’t get much press. Through this series, we hope to bring to your attention some of those lesser known or forgotten standards and spotlight their value to our community.
