The 2009 InformOntario Style Guide was officially launched at the IO Symposium on May 6, 2009.
A hard copy was provided to all IO members in attendance. A copy was mailed to all other 2009 members. See below for electronic version and other resources. If other materials are required before the toolkit is ready, e-mail a request to IO Admin Support (mclachlanbarbara@yahoo.ca) or chair John Allec (jallec@findhelp.ca).
Some of the members of the Style Guide Task Force at launch. Left to right: John Allec, Chair; Sean McCorkell, Julia Brackenbury, Barbara McLachlan, Jennifer LIndsey, Corinne Gallois, Laura McDonald.
Introduction:
After years of work, meetings, planning, discussions (and a few laughs), the Standards and Accreditation Committee received approval in February 2009 for a new Style Guide for InformOntario members.
The 70-page-plus data management standard was officially launched at the 2009 IO Symposium on May 6, 2009. The unveiling was followed by a hands-on training workshop to help all data managers jump-start their efforts to adhere to the new standard. That workshop presentation by Mark Winfield will be posted here soon.
The Style Guide is actually the cornerstone of a new Information Management Standards toolkit which will be available soon. It will feature related standards and management supplements available for downloading to your desktop.
The Standards Committee is also developing an implementation strategy for its members. More details coming soon.
As well, a "Conversion Challenges" document was presented to the 211 Operators gp in March. Members will find it a helpful overview of the work ahead to implement this standard. Refer to the Editorial/Research column for highlights on recommended data element best practices. Download document >>>
Background:
Each page of the Style Guide addresses a specific Mandatory Data Element (not field). Data elements are abstract, general types of information, while data fields are the "containers" in which a specific database for the information - or component parts of that information. For example a street address is a data element no matter how it is entered into a database, whether it is entered in its entirety into one field, or whether the information is entered into half a dozen small fields (one for the street number, one for the street name, etc).
Major Components
· Identified, reviewed and re-affirmed required data elements for the 211Ontario.ca website
· Defined each data element, and provided best practices, examples, etc.
· Corresponding French examples and exceptions, a guide for creating and maintaining Francophone records, etc.
· Identified relationship with AIRS standards, Franco-Ontarian elements, CIOC software and 211Ontario.ca website
· Restructured and/or re-named a number of data elements, including:
o Area Served and Boundaries
o Service Level
o Funding
o Comments family of elements
o Site Location
o Located in Community
o Description family of elements
· Created a series of supplements to support the Style Guide
· French-language version in partnership with Franco211 project
DOCUMENTS
- Style Guide - English version - May 2009 - Download
- Style Guide - French version - May 2009 - Download
- Naming Standard - English version - 2007 - Download
- Naming Standard - French version - 2009 - Download
RESOURCES
- French accents and terminology - 2009 - Download
RELATED WORKSHOPS
Data/Enquiry Tag Team – Download Power Point presentation
Using Globals for Style Guide workshop - PPT Presentation Download ZIP file and Saved Searches help pages - Download supplement
Workshop - May 2008 - Working with Description fields - Light, Bright and Tight - Download and Active Verbs List - Download Supplement
Coming Soon:
The Committee is currently working on:
- Subjects Records standard - report complete; feedback requested until June 29/09; will be recommended to IO Bd in July
- its Information Management toolkit, which will incorporate all supplements, glossaries and French materials into one convenient place
- resources and tools to help with planing and implementing changes
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