The NISO Institutional Identifiers (I2) Working Group

Recognizing the importance of the institution as a critical entity in any information model, from information creation to information sharing, NISO (National Information Standards Organization) has formed a working group to develop a standard (Z39.94) for identifying institutions. This installment of “Standards Update” will discuss the mission and objectives of that working group and provide some information about its timelines for developing the standard.     

NISO's Networked References Standards Committee

Abstract

This article describes an effort being undertaken by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) to develop a standard for collaborative networked-based reference services. Many technologies can be employed in such efforts, but the basic characteristic of such services is the ability of a user to submit questions and receive answers and information by electronic means. Serials Review 2002; 28:342–343.     

Usage and Usability Assessment

Abstract

This article describes Online Information Exchange (ONIX) for Serials, a set of XML-based messages parallel to the ONIX for Books format described in an earlier “Standards Update.” These messages are being developed by a joint working party of National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and EDItEUR, the European EDI organization that oversees ONIX development and maintenance. The article describes the messages, their development, and some of the applications in which it is envisioned the messages will be used.     

U.K. Little Magazines: An Introductory Survey

Abstract

Standards are essential to guide both technical and information management in providing access to and delivery of content. Standards development, implementation, and use help the information community meet the needs of its users. The information community grapples with a myriad of methods for providing access to content and capturing transaction level information about access to and use of content. Publishers struggle with ways to manage increased content flow. The author discusses the 2002 revision of the Standard for Library Statistics, NISO Z39.7 (NISO is the National Information Standards Organization, a nonprofit association founded in 1939 and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)), and the research and assessment that went into its evolution from a static index of data elements to a Web-based data dictionary embracing U.S. and international metrics for describing and measuring information services and delivery.     

Academic Library Centrality: User Success through Service,Access, and Tradition,

Abstract

This article describes the OpenURL standard, an emerging standard for creating URLs that can be used for reference linking and potentially many other applications. The article describes some of the uses and advantages of the OpenURL standard and some of the applications it enables, the actual syntax of the standard, as well as some work occurring at the National Information Standards Organization to develop a US national standard for the OpenURL syntax. Serials Review 2002; 28:74–76.     

The NISO Metasearch Workshop

Abstract

This article describes a workshop held by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) to look at issues involving metasearch systems. The goal of the workshop was to bring together integrated library system vendors, metasearch system vendors, and information providers, such as publishers and aggregators, to determine if there were some areas that were ripe for either standardization or defining guidelines and best practices. Serials Review 2003; 29:256–257.     

Moving to a World of More Seamless Single Sign-on Access: NISO’s RA21 Recommended Practice

Abstract

In this Standards Update column, Todd Carpenter, Executive Director of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO), provides a preview of NISO’s upcoming RA21 Recommended Practice for single sign-on systems. Carpenter describes previous attempts at single sign-on standards, the essential difficulties in authenticating users, and how RA21 will address these issues while ensuring the privacy of user data.     

Magazines for Libraries

Abstract

An update on the work of the National Information Standards Organization Institutional Identifiers (I2) Working Group.     

Using a Standard License for Individual Electronic Journal Purchases

Abstract

This article describes a pilot project in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries in which a standard library license (based directly on the CLIR/NERL/NELINET license) was sent to publishers of individual electronic journals as the initial step in arranging for e-journal access, rather than working first with the publisher's own license. Serials Review 2003; 29:302–304.     

The Shibboleth Authentication/Authorization System

Abstract

This installment of “Standards Update” describes Shibboleth, an architecture for authentication/authorization to support interinstitutional sharing of resources that are subject to access control.     

CORE (Cost of Resource Exchange) Standard

Abstract

This article describes the CORE (Cost of Resource Exchange) standard. CORE defines an XML schema to allow the exchange of financial information relating to library resources among library systems.     

Maxwell's Guide to Authority Work

Abstract

This article will discuss a joint effort to develop a single standard for the exchange of license information between publishers and libraries.     

The library web: Case studies in web site creation and implementation

Abstract

In May 2003, the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) held a strategy meeting to look at issues surrounding standardization of metasearch systems. The goal of the workshop was to examine the state of the art in metasearch and ways of building consensus to move forward. This article describes the work that has been going on with NISO metasearch activity since that initial meeting.     

Electronic Journal Forum: Defining an “Access Level” Catalog Record Using MARC 21 and AACR2

Abstract

The Library of Congress (LC) is in the process of developing a new level of MARC 21 and AACR2 cataloging for non-serial Internet resources called “access” level. This article briefly describes the impetus behind the creation of this new standard, information about the proposed standard itself, and the results of a test conducted at LC using the core data set and cataloging guidelines. The future plans of the Library for implementing and possibly expanding the use of access level are identified.     

Nursing Research Journals

Abstract

Recent discussions concerning the mission and direction of graduate programs in library and information science (LIS) have become heated. In a response to a call for greater communication between practitioners and LIS educators, eight librarians who are relatively recent graduates of LIS graduate programs offer their views on what they wish their programs had taught them about serials. All are either working in serials or have serials experience. Serials Review 2003; 29:26–35.     

Comparison of two methods in estimating standard error of the method of simulated moments estimators for generalized linear mixed models

ABSTRACT

The likelihood of a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) often involves high-dimensional integrals, which in general cannot be computed explicitly. When direct computation is not available, method of simulated moments (MSM) is a fairly simple way to estimate the parameters of interest. In this research, we compared parametric bootstrap (PB) and nonparametric bootstrap methods (NPB) in estimating the standard errors of MSM estimators for GLMM. Simulation results show that when the group size is large, the PB and NPB perform similarly; when group size is medium, NPB performs better than PB in estimating standard errors of the mean.     

The Evolution of SPARC

Abstract

Standards are critical to the library industry. They allow libraries to share data and search each other's catalogs. They also allow integrated library systems (ILS) vendors to develop one interface between disparate systems rather than many. This paper outlines existing standards, how these standards are being used in the process of software development, and the role of ILS vendors in developing and maintaining standards.     

A generalized,multi-stage adjusted,latent class linear mixed model for testing genetic association

ABSTRACT

In this study, a Generalized, Multi-Stage Adjusted, Latent Class Linear Mixed Model is proposed for modeling the heterogeneous distributed phenotype and genetic information across the whole genome in the presence of both serial and familial correlations. Genome data were analyzed by applying the proposed model to Genetic Analysis Workshop (GAW) data, and the model results were compared to the results of standard models. Moreover, the potential of the model is discussed compared to simulated data. As a result of model comparisons, the information criteria and the genomic control parameter were found to be smaller. The results of a power analysis show that the proposed model is more powerful.     

An Interview with Three Members of the Kate Sharpley Library

Abstract

Jessamyn West interviews three members of the Kate Sharpley Library, a library, reference service, and publishing association that provide access to information about anarchism and anarchist history. The library was founded in South London in 1979 and is now a distributed project, including locations in California and South London and working members in Ireland.