Date: December 3, 2003 Creator: Moen, William E. Description:
This lecture script examines the nature and role of standards
for the emerging 21st century library. Given the dynamic
character of the networked environment, when are standards
appropriate and how can they be developed in a manner consistent
with the volatility of information technologies and changing
library services? What are the roles and responsibilities of
standards developing organizations, technology vendors, content
creators, and librarians for standards? Do local practices of
libraries threaten standards-based resource sharing and resource
access technologies? Can local needs be balanced with broader
library community responsibilities, and how do standards affect
this balance? The speaker's assumption is that adherence to
standards has never been more critical, yet his implementation
experience with Z39.50 and MARC suggests that the commitment to
national and international standards by librarians, technology
vendors, and content creators