AIRS Taxonomy Listserv FAQs: Provides step-by-step instructions for joining, using and quitting the listserv. Contact information for the listserv moderators is included.
An Orientation to the Structure and Contents of the AIRS/211 LA County Taxonomy: Provides an overview of the organization and contents of the classification system endorsed by both AIRS and United Way of America for indexing community resource databases. The Taxonomy's editor discusses the contents of the system's ten service categories and the separate Target Populations branch. Written by Georgia Sales, 211 LA County, originally published in "Information & Referral: The Journal of the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems" (reprinted with permission). PDF
Customization Guidelines: Considerations for customizing the Taxonomy to meet local needs. Includes a process for evaluating customization options as well as cautions. Written by Georgia Sales, 211 LA County. PDF
Using Filters to Create and Manage Taxonomy Subsets for a Resource Database: An article by Georgia Sales, 211 LA County and Dick Manikowski, AIRS Journal editor, that describes a feature on the Taxonomy Web site that enables users to create, maintain and share customized versions of the Taxonomy. The article was originally published in Volume 29 of "Information & Referral: The Journal of the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems" (reprinted with permission). PDF
How to Keep Your Taxonomy Updated: A practical guide written by Georgia Sales of 211 LA County, originally published in "Information & Referral: The Journal of the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems" (reprinted with permission). Updated June, 2009.
Indexing Using Target Population Terms: A practical and theoretical discussion of how the Taxonomy's target population terms can be used to refine indexing and help users focus their searches more narrowly. Written by Cathleen Kelly (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Mental Health Association of NYC) and Diane Gatto Barrett (United Way Services, Cleveland, OH) and originally published in "Information & Referral: The Journal of the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems". Reprinted with permission. PDF
Indexing with the AIRS/211 LA County Taxonomy: A practical guide written by Margaret Bruni of the Detroit Public Library TIP Service, originally published in "Information & Referral: The Journal of the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems" (reprinted with permission). PDF
Indexing with the AIRS/211 LA County Taxonomy: A PowerPoint presentation by Dick Manikowski of the Detroit Public Library TIP Service. Updated June, 2009.
Taxonomy Overview (U.S. Version): A PowerPoint presentation that originated from a presentation provided by Mary Hogan of 211 Connecticut to 211 Ontario, which in turn was based on one created by Dick Manikowski of Detroit Public Library and on the model devised originally by Margaret Bruni for workshops offered at AIRS conferences in the late 1990s, with input from Georgia Sales and others. Remember that because the Taxonomy constantly changes, some of the specific examples of terms and definitions may no longer be valid (although what they illustrate will still hold true). (July 2008)
Taxonomy Overview (Canadian Version): A PowerPoint presentation that originated from a presentation provided by Mary Hogan of 211 Connecticut to 211 Ontario, which in turn was based on one created by Dick Manikowski of Detroit Public Library and on the model devised originally by Margaret Bruni for workshops offered at AIRS conferences in the late 1990s, with input from Georgia Sales and others. Remember that because the Taxonomy constantly changes, some of the specific examples of terms and definitions may no longer be valid (although what they illustrate will still hold true). (July 2008)
Taxonomy Training Curriculum: A standard curriculum with numerous handouts and exercises that can be used by folks training others in how to use the Taxonomy or having to train themselves. As with many resources, it improves with personalization and users are encouraged to freely adapt this to their own I&R software, training style and internal processes.
Introduction to Taxonomy and Indexing: An online course available through the AIRS training portal at www.cequick.com/airs. It takes a while to complete and is a good way of assessing your "Taxonomy readiness".
Introduction to the Taxonomy: Georgia Sales, 211 LA County. (PDF)
Components include:
What is a Taxonomy?
What is the AIRS/211 LA County Taxonomy and Why is it Important?
Structure and Contents
of the Taxonomy
Disaster Services: The Disaster Services section was developed in conjunction with the AIRS NERIN (National Emergency Resource Information Network) project and is available in accordance with our Terms of Use. Included here are an outline of the section's structure and a hierarchical listing of all terms with definitions, see also references and use references.
Volunteer Opportunities: The Volunteer Opportunities section of the Taxonomy was developed in cooperation with the Points of Light Foundation and is available in accordance with our Terms of Use. Included here are an outline of the section's structure and a hierarchical listing of all terms with definitions, see also references and use references.
Order Form & Subscription Agreement: An order form that people who do not want to order on-line using a credit card can download, complete and send to 211 LA County to obtain a subscription. Also included is the Subscription Agreement.
Subscriber License: An organization needs a license to engage in any use of the Taxonomy. In situations where there is a central database maintained for use by multiple organizations, each of the organizations needs its own license. Please contact 211 LA County for more information about licenses. For more information about subscribing, see the Subscribe Help page.
Canadian Subscribers can go to http://211canada.typepad.com/informcanada/taxonomy/index.html to subscribe to the Canadian Taxonomy. Although you may browse the Canadian version or register to evaluate the Taxonomy at this site, subscriptions to the Canadian version are available through InformCanada at a low introductory rate for 2008-10. The special rate is only available until March 31, 2008.
Vendor License: The Taxonomy Subscription Agreement does not permit software vendors to incorporate the Taxonomy into a software product or service. If you are a software vendor and are interested in using the Taxonomy in your software product or service, please see the Software Vendor License Agreement and contact 211 LA County directly at carol@211la.org or (626) 350-1841.
Copyright Statement: As a licensed Taxonomy subscriber, you have agreed to observe the provisions of the Taxonomy Subscription Agreement document. One of the requirements is as follows:
If the Taxonomy, or any portion of the Taxonomy (including its terms, codes, definitions or references), are utilized in a Subscriber Directory that is published, transmitted, distributed or otherwise made available to third parties, by any means or medium, the Subscriber shall prominently display the following notice in such directory:
Copyright © 1983 - 2012, Information and Referral Federal of Los Angeles County, Inc. All rights reserved. The index, codes and definitions of the terms contained herein are the intellectual property of Information and Referral Federal of Los Angeles, Inc. and are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. No part of this listing of human services terms and definitions may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electrical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Information and Referral Federal of Los Angeles County, Inc.
If the Taxonomy is displayed or otherwise made available in a Subscriber Directory via the Internet, Subscriber shall prominently include a link to a copyright acknowledgement statement that 211 LA maintains online, currently located at: http://www.211la.org/?p=997.
An organization needs a license to engage in any use of the Taxonomy. In situations where there is a central database maintained for use by multiple organizations, each of the organizations needs its own license. Please contact 211 LA County for more information about licenses.
Other Language Label Translations: As a licensed subscriber, you are authorized to translate into another language the "label" for Taxonomy terms that you have used to index health and human services information and resources in the your database, solely to the extent reasonably necessary for the community served by your I&R service and your database provided that:
Please refer to the October 12, 2009 Subscription Agreement currently on the 211taxonomy.org Web site for other restrictions that apply. To be in compliance with the terms of the agreement, you must replace your existing agreement with the revision.
Acknowledgments: A cumulative document which lists the source material for Taxonomy definitions and structure. PDF
Criteria for Full Installation of the AIRS/211 LA County Taxonomy in an I&R Software Package: A document developed by the AIRS Taxonomy Committee and approved by the AIRS Board that provides specifications that software vendors can use to implement the Taxonomy in their I&R software. It can also be used by I&R services to evaluate Taxonomy features in software. PDF
Glossary: Defines terminology relevant to the Taxonomy and classification. Includes material from the Criteria for Full Installation of the AIRS/211 LA County Taxonomy in an I&R Software Package as well as the Standards for Professional Information and Referral published by AIRS. PDF
Taxonomy Development Rules: Provides a "behind-the-scenes" look at how the Taxonomy is structured including rules for assigning codes, selecting term name, developing definitions and choosing cross references ("use references" and "see also" references). Georgia Sales, 211 LA County. PDF