Electronic data interchange

First step technical standardization, it's necessary to determine which vocabulary and syntax we want to use : that's what is called data elements standardization. For libraries applications, interlibrary loan, acquisitions, information retrieval, there have been first a specific standard : ISO 8459 « bibliographic data elements directory ». But there is a problem of consistency between this standard and the today well used standards conceming economic and trade interchanges : EDI standards. There are nowadays important ISO initiatives to coordinate data element standardization : the libraries issue is to participate in this common programme without losing the specificity and the richness of its own language.
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