NISO Issues Fast-Tracked SERU Draft

Document on Shared E-Resource Understanding in Trial Use Through December 20

Only nine months after the Shared E-Resource Understanding (SERU) Working
Group was first formed, the National Information Standards Organization
(NISO) has issued a Draft for Trial Use of "SERU: A Shared Electronic
Resource Understanding" (SERU version 0.9). The SERU trial period runs
from June 20, 2007 through December 20, 2007; the draft is available from:
www.niso.org/committees/seru/.

The SERU recommended practice document aims to solve the problem of
customer-by-customer, bilaterally negotiated formal legal contracts, which
increase the cost of sales for both libraries and publishers and delay
access for users at subscribing institutions. The document consists of a
framework and set of statements that express frequently adopted
expectations among academic and other nonprofit libraries and publishers.
Libraries and publishers will be able to forgo a license by referencing
these common understandings.

To facilitate trial uses of the statement, SERU 0.9 includes guidelines
for implementation and the Working Group's website includes new
accompanying FAQs to assist users of the statements. A registry of
libraries, publishers, and other content providers who wish to announce
their interest in using SERU for transactions during the six-month pilot
is also available. The working group encourages pilot use of the 0.9 draft
by interested libraries and publishers. To join the registry or see the
list of current trial participants visit:
www.niso.org/committees/seru/registry.html.

"We are very pleased with the active participation of the community in the
comment period," said Todd Carpenter. "By publicly and openly accepting
comments from a diverse group of publishers and librarians, the group has
been able to develop a draft that addresses the key issues with subtlety
and creativity."

The Working Group continues to welcome comments on the draft document and
encourages their submission to co-chairs Karla Hahn (karla@arl.org) or
Judy Luther (judy.luther@informedstrategies.com) or to any other member of
the Working Group: www.niso.org/committees/seru/wg.html.

Cynthia Hodgson
National Information Standards Organization
Email: chodgson@niso.org
Phone: 301-654-2512