New ISO 10160 – Interlibrary Loan

ISO 10160, “Information and documentation – Open Systems Interconnection – Interlibrary Loan Application Service Definition,” has just been updated.  And since I’m participating in the annual Standards Roundtable at the Special Libraries Association Convention today, I’m featuring this new revision!  While it’s a highly technical document, it does highlight the degree to which library functions have been automated.  The library community has been using online tools for many years now.  So while the ALA (American Library Association) still provides the paper form 2002 for ILL, most libraries use computerized systems.

What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?  This is a system used within the United States that allows one library or library system to “borrow” a copy of a publication from another.  We use the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States as the protocol for such transactions.  There are also requirements for Canada, other jurisdictions and of course, internationally.

How is the ISO 10160 used?  ISO 10160 provides a set of Application Layer services used in computer-based systems that allow for libraries to make loans in an Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) environment.  Why?  So that software products from a variety of suppliers using various levels of sophistication and technologies can communicate seamlessly.  This means that different libraries can implement different solutions and still “communicate” back and forth.

Why are libraries interested in this type of standardization?  ISO 10160 satisfies a number of objectives.  These include control — managing the transaction and monitoring the document in question — and minimizing costs.  Also, the standard is based on current ILL practices which means that libraries will have an easy time porting old paper-based systems to the current computer-based procedures.

Do librarians write this standard?  Participation in ISO Technical Committee 46 (which is in charge of the ISO 10160) is handled in the U.S. by NISO, the National Information Standards Organization.  NISO membership is composed of both librarians and others from the various companies that provide the library community with products and services.  Participation from librarians in the development of a standard like ISO 10160 is essential, since implementation of the publication affects the every-day activities that any library will perform.

What about the document itself?  The ISO 10160 2015 Edition is a technical update to the 1997 Edition and it’s Amendment 1.  It’s 84 pages in length but with the same basic format as previously.  The clauses are stable, with the usual scope, reference documents, and terms and definitions sections starting off the publication.  And Clauses 4 on abbreviations and Clause 5 on conventions are still there as well.  Clause 6 on the service model has the same sub-clauses as before, as does Clause 7 on the definition of services.  However, for these two clauses, the pages devoted to the topic have substantially increased.   In the 2015 Edition, Annex A begins on page 66 while the previous 1997 Edition’s Annex A starts at page 50.  While some of this is probably due to the reformatting of the standard from two columns to one, most is likely on account of integrating the information from the previous Amendment 1 (a new Annex D to include Canadian protocols) into the body of the standard.  Which brings us to the final change.  The 2015 Edition has Annexes A and B plus the bibliography (which is no longer considered an Annex) instead of the previous Annexes A through D.

Now, the big question:  How do you get a copy of ISO 10160?  Since all ISO standards are copyright documents, you must purchase a copy from an authorized distributor like Document Center Inc.  Search for and buy any of these publications at our webstore, www.document-center.com.  And here’s a direct link to the ISO 10160 order page.  They’re all available in both paper and pdf format, and can be included in your Standards Online multi-user subscription service too.  We’ve been providing folks like you with standards since 1982, and participating in SLA since the 1980’s as well!  The library community has been going through big changes since that time and Document Center Inc. is happy to have been a part of that transformation.