EDItEUR has made the ONIX for Serials Coverage statement and SOH v. 1.1
available as drafts for review and piloting on the EDItEUR
website.  Originally we had planned to distribute these documents to the
JWP groups first, but it seemed simpler to put them on the website where
they can be seen easily by all.

The Coverage overview and schema can be reviewed at
http://www.editeur.org/onixserials/ONIX_Coverage09.html. Coverage is an XML
structure capable of carrying simple or complex statements of holdings of
serial resources.  The Coverage Statement is not a message format in
itself, but rather a structure that is included in other ONIX for Serials
formats.  The Coverage Statement may also be used to express holdings or
coverage in XML structures other than those specified in ONIX for
Serials.  Coverage allows the expression of more complex holdings than the
<JournalIssue> and <Embargo> composites currently found in the SOH and SPS
formats.  Among other things, it allows for the expression of "moving
starts" (aka "rolling starts") and supplement enumeration and chronology.

We have also issued a new release of the SOH format, which makes use of the
ONIX for Serials Coverage statement.  The overview and schema can be
reviewed at http://www.editeur.org/onixserials/ONIX_SOH1.1.html.

Please note that SOH release 1.1 allows the expression of holdings through
the use of either the old-style <JournalIssue> and <Embargo> composites or
the new <Coverage> composite within any given <OnlinePackage>
composite.  However, the use of the old-style composites is discouraged,
because in future releases of the SOH format, they may eventually be
deleted.  Users who have implemented Release 1.0 are assured that all
existing elements will continue to be supported in their present form for
the foreseeable future, and releases will continue to be numbered 1.n to
indicate that full backwards compatibility is maintained.  When the new
Coverage elements have been thoroughly proven and accepted, it is possible
that the existing JournalIssue and Embargo composites may be phased out as
part of Release 2.0, but this step will only be taken after due
consultation with users.  New users, however, are encouraged if possible to
use the Coverage composite.

We invite comments and review on both of these formats through September,
2007, at which time they will no longer be considered drafts.  And of
course we welcome any efforts to pilot Coverage and SOH 1.1.  Please send
comments to brian@bic.org.uk.

We are sending press releases to liblicense-l, SERIALST, UKSG and NISO
Newsline announcing the availability of these formats.

Many thanks to the members of Coverage group, chaired by Nathan Robertson,
for their efforts in making Coverage possible.

Yours,
Kathy Klemperer
for EDItEUR

================================
Katharina Klemperer, MLS
Library and Information Systems Consulting
37 Minuteman Rd.
Acton, MA 01720 USA
office: 978-266-1776
mobile: 978-590-6021
kathy.klemperer@verizon.net