Recently issued
as a draft standard for trial use, the 2002 Library Statistics
Standard ( Z39.7-2002) provides
a common framework for data collection professionals from the
library and publishing community to gauge the effectiveness of
their services. The document assists in identifying, defining,
collecting and interpreting statistical information and
includes a special section on measuring electronic resources -
a process known as 'e-metrics' - which NISO believes addresses
a critical component of modern information
dissemination.
"In the past, a
library relied on tangible sources of measuring how its
services were used, such as the number of books that were
borrowed or the number of visitors," explained Pat Harris,
NISO's Executive Director. "Today, users can 'enter' a library
remotely via the internet, making it difficult to gauge the
institution's effectiveness in meeting the needs of its
community." NISO
Standards Committee AY was specifically tasked with
including e-metrics definitions in the revised draft
standard.
 Published
as a web accessible database
Committee
chair, Denise Davis, director of Statistics and Surveys at the
National Commission on
Libraries and Information Science, indicated that
Z39.7:2002 represents a "major departure" from previous
versions in a number of ways. "In addition to providing the
first ever e-metrics definitions, the draft is published as a
web accessible database that show the document's progression.
Users will have access to the definition of a particular term
as well as the context for any modifications as it evolves
during the comment period."
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Also, the
document's scope has been expanded to include "valuable best
practices long recognized by the U.S. library community [as
well as relevant] international definitions" based on the 2001
revision of the International
Organization for Standardization 2789:1991, Information and
documentation - International library statistics. Davis
indicated these enhancements have broadened the standard's
application to a wider community than was achieved in previous
versions.
12 month
trial period
The draft is
currently issued for trial use for the period of 26 July 2002
through 31 July 2003, during which time NISO is seeking
comments from all professionals engaged in data collection
activities at the local, state and national levels. Committee
AY will review the comments quarterly and refresh the document
accordingly. At the completion of the one year comment period,
the final document will be submitted to NISO Voting Members
for approval. Davis has indicated that next year the standard
will follow the NISO procedure for submission to ANSI for
approval as an American National Standard. To submit comments
to Z39.7:2002, please visit the Statistics
Standards comment site.
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