Book Review: The Critical Component: Standards in the Information Exchange Environment

Abstract

People may not realize it, but standards are all around us. The seat belt in cars that keeps passengers safe, the power outlets found in homes to plug an electronic device, or the JPEG file that is downloaded to view a friend’s picture all adhere to standards. If it were not for these standards, many of the things people do would not be possible. Information professionals in particular need standards to communicate, access, retrieve, and display information. The Critical Component: Standards in the Information Exchange Environment provides the reader with an understanding and appreciation for the standard creation process in the information environment. It highlights some of the most important standards in the library profession, from the description standards that librarians and publishers use for resources, to the various types of identifiers found in the information supply chain.