New and Updated Government of Canada Web Standards

The Treasury Board Secretariat has recently released several new and updated standards for managing the Government of Canada’s web presence.

New

Standard on Social Media Account Management

5.1 Objective

The objective of this Standard is to enable a strategic and coherent approach for the management of Government of Canada official social media accounts.

5.2 Expected Results

The expected results of this Standard are as follows:

5.2.1 Official social media accounts are clearly identified as Government of Canada accounts;

5.2.2 Official social media accounts are effectively managed within departments and at the Government of Canada-wide level; and

5.2.3 Opportunities are enhanced for communication, service delivery and collaboration through the use of official social media accounts.

Standard on Optimizing Websites and Applications for Mobile Devices

5.1 Objective

5.1.1 Government of Canada online information and services reach the widest possible audience.

5.1.2 Government of Canada websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications achieve a high level of accessibility and usability.

5.1.3 Government of Canada device-based mobile applications are easy to find and recognize.

5.2 Expected results

5.2.1 Government of Canada online information and services are optimized for mobile devices.

5.2.2 Government of Canada provides device-based mobile applications only where user and business needs cannot be met by websites or Web applications optimized for mobile devices.

5.2.3 Government of Canada websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications respect internationally accepted guidelines for accessibility and respect usability principles and approaches.

5.2.4 Government of Canada device-based mobile applications are published through the department that has been mandated as the Government of Canada publishing entity.

Technical Specifications for Social Media Accounts

Clearly identifying Government of Canada official social media accounts on third-party platforms and applying the government’s corporate identity can present challenges. Page layouts and proprietary design controls often limit the size and display of visual elements, as well as the length of account names. The following specifications ensure a common approach to the identification of the Government of Canada on all social media platforms, while taking into account these challenges and the evolving nature of government’s use of these tools.

Technical specifications for the Web and mobile presence

This document is a companion to the Standard on Web Usability and to the Standard on Optimizing Websites and Applications for Mobile Devices. It describes how to optimize websites and Web applications for mobile devices, as well as the layout and design specifications for websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications. This ensures that Government of Canada websites, Web applications and device-based mobile applications are recognizable, easy to use and optimized for a wide variety of devices, such as smart phones (small device screens), tablets (medium device screens) and desktop computers (large device screens).

Updated

Standard on Web Usability

The Standard on Web Usability has been updated to align with the new Standard on Optimizing Websites and Applications for Mobile Devices. The implementation timeline for the requirements outlined in the Standard on Web Usability has been extended to March 31, 2016, with the exception of notices, which must be met by July 31, 2013. New websites and Web applications must comply when they are published. Requirements have been added concerning the display of social media icons, and new notices have been added – one regarding accessibility and one regarding the Government of Canada’s use of social media. Timelines regarding notices are unchanged.

Future of Library Systems

The theme of the latest issue of Information Standards Quarterly (ISQ) is Future of Library Systems.

Table of Contents

Letter from the Guest Content Editor
by Marshall Breeding

Feature

• The Future of Library Systems: Library Services Platforms
  by Carl Grant

In Practice

• Alma at Purdue: The Development Partnership Experience
  by Paul J. Bracke

• OCLC’s WorldShare Management: Early adopter experience at a small liberal arts institution
  by Gentry Holbert

• The Orange County Library System Environment: Connecting Sierra with Custom Applications
  by William Eric Atkinson

• Kuali OLE: A Community Collaboration in Software for and by Libraries 
  by Michael Winkler and Robert H. McDonald

Standard Spotlight

• Hard CORE: Not All Useful Standards Catch On
  by Ted Koppel

NISO Reports

• New Version Published of NCIP – NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol
• COUNTER-SUSHI Implementation Profile Published as a Recommended Practice
• NISO Receives Mellon Foundation Grant to Assess the Current State and Future Needs of a New Bibliographic Framework

Noteworthy

• ORCID Registry Launched
• Leading Global Standards Organizations Endorse “OpenStand” Principles that Drive Innovation and Borderless Commerce
• ALCTS/LITA Metadata Standards Committee Formed
• Second Edition of Open Archival Information System Reference Model Published
• New Global Subject Codes Standard Launches at Frankfurt BookFair
• New Services Provide Growing Access to Research Datasets
• Correspondence between ISO 25964 and SKOS/SKOS-XL Models Developed

Standards in Development, November 15, 2012

Library Consultants Code of Ethics

Source: http://connect.ala.org/node/160463

Hello colleagues,

The Library Consultants Interest Group (LCIG – formerly ILEX) has developed a Library Consultants Code of Ethics (shown below and attached.)  There will be an Open Forum to discuss the draft code at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas.

Sunday, January 22, 4-5:30 pm, DCC D224

We invite all library consultants, whether independent or part of a library organization, to join us at the Open Forum to discuss the Code of Ethics.

Nancy Bolt

Library Consultants Code of Ethics

The purpose of this Code is to help library consultants maintain their professionalism and adhere to high ethical standards as they provide services to clients and in their dealings with their colleagues and in their commitment to the public and the library profession. The individual members must use their judgment to apply these principles.

1. I will serve my clients with integrity, competence, independence, objectivity, and professionalism.
2. I will mutually establish with my clients realistic expectations of the benefits and results of my services.
3. I will only accept assignments for which I possess the requisite experience and competence to perform and will only assign staff or engage colleagues with the knowledge and expertise needed to serve my clients effectively.
4. Before accepting any engagement, I will ensure that I have worked with my clients to establish a mutual understanding of the objectives, scope, work plan, timetable, and fee arrangements.
5. I will treat appropriately all confidential client information that is not public knowledge, take reasonable steps to prevent it from access by unauthorized people, and will not take advantage of proprietary or privileged information, either for use by myself, the client’s organization , or another client, without the client’s permission.
6. I will avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of such and will immediately disclose to the client circumstances or interests that I believe may influence my judgment or objectivity.
7. I will offer to withdraw from a consulting assignment when I believe my objectivity or integrity may be impaired.
8. I will agree in advance with a client on the basis for fees and expenses and will charge fees that are reasonable and commensurate with the services delivered and the responsibility accepted.
9. I will not accept commissions, remuneration, or other benefits from a third party in connection with the recommendations to a client without that client’s prior knowledge and consent, and I will disclose in advance any financial interests in goods or services that form part of such recommendations.
10. If within the scope of my engagement, I will report to appropriate authorities within or external to the client organization any occurrences of malfeasance, dangerous behavior, or illegal activities.
11. I will respect the rights of consulting colleagues and consulting firms and will not use their proprietary information or methodologies without permission.
12. I will represent the library profession with integrity and professionalism in my relations with my clients, colleagues, and the general public.
13. I will not advertise my services in a deceptive manner nor misrepresent or denigrate individual consulting practitioners, consulting firms, or the consulting profession.

This Code of Ethics is based on a Code developed by the Institute of Management Consultants.  We thank IMC for their permission to use their Code as the basis of this Code.

 

New CLA Publication! Guidelines for the Education of Library Technicians

The Canadian Library Association (CLA) is pleased to announce the release of the new Guidelines for the Education of Library Technicians.  This document is a revision of the Guidelines first produced in 1991.

The new Guidelines have been produced by the CLA Library Technicians Interest Group, in consultation with the Program Chairs/Coordinators of Canadian institutions offering Library Technician programs.

The purpose of the Guidelines for the Education of Library Technicians is to promote excellence in the training and education of library technicians and to serve as a national standard for both educational institutions in Canada and employers who need to determine the capabilities of program graduates.

Karen Hildebrandt, convenor of the Library Technicians Interest Group, is thrilled that this update has been completed.  “So much has changed in libraries in the past 20 years, and Library Technician education must continue to keep pace.  These updated Guidelines will help our educators to ensure that graduates have the necessary competencies to meet the needs of a variety of employers.”

The Guidelines for the Education of Library Technicians is available on the CLA website.