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.     

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.     

Best Practices for Presentation of E-journal Titles on Provider Web Sites and in Other E-content Products

Abstract

As a result of inaccurate displays of journal metadata in e-content access tools and on Web sites, researchers and readers do not find the content they are seeking, and the full value of e-content services is not realized. A group will be formed later this year to develop a set of NISO best practices for presentation of e-journal titles, provision of correct ISSN information, and other basic bibliographic data on provider Web sites and in other e-content products.     

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.     

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.     

The NISO Institutional Identifiers (I2) Working Group

Abstract

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.     

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.     

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.     

Anima

Abstract

The ANSI Standard on Serial Holdings Statements at the Summary Level is being withdrawn and a new holdings standard developed by NISO, entitled Serial Holdings Statements, is being approved in its place. This article compares the two standards, and describes the changes users will need to make when adopting the new standard.     

Reports of Conferences,Institutes, and Seminars

Abstract

This column covers several conference sessions from the 14th annual Electronic Resources & Libraries Conference, providing guidance on how to navigate ebook duplication, improving documentation and workflows, implementing OpenAthens, and experiences with Project SILLVR (Streaming Interlibrary Loan Video Resources)and knowledge bases and related tools (KBART) automation. There is also a report from IFLA’s SIG Library Publishing Mid-Term meeting, which was an ideological meeting in nature, discussing community building, resource sharing, and status updates. A report from the 2018 Charleston Conference is also included.     

NISO Webinar: The Future of Integrated Library Systems: Part 1: RDA & Cataloging

Abstract

This column's offerings cover late spring through summer to fall of 2011: NISO Webinar: The Future of Integrated Library Systems: Part 1: RDA & Cataloging (May 11); American Library Association Annual Conference (June 23–28); Association of College and Research Libraries New England Serials and Electronic Resources Interest Group Summer Program: Current Trends in E-Journals (August 18); Kentucky Library Association/Kentucky School Media Association Joint Conference (September 28–October 1); American Society for Information Science and Technology Annual Meeting (October 9–12); Great Lakes E-Summit Conference (October 10–11); and Potomac Technical Processing Librarians Annual Meeting (October 21).     

Government Publications

Abstract

The Scholarly Communication Interest Group of the New England Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries sponsored a workshop titled “Partnering with Faculty: Scholarly Communication Conversations,” held on July 29, 2010, at the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts. Partnering with EBSCO and the North American Serials Interest Group, Mississippi State University (MSU) Libraries hosted the ninth MidSouth eResource Symposium at MSU's Mitchell Memorial Library in Starkville, Mississippi, on Thursday, September 16, 2010. ITHAKA Sustainable Scholarship was a two-day meeting at the Westin Times Square, New York City, September 27–28, 2010. Finally, published herein is a summary of the NISO Webinar “It's Only as Good as the Metadata: Improving OpenURL and Knowledge Base Quality,” held October 13, 2010.     

The two ANSI standards for serial holdings statements: A comparison

The ANSI Standard on Serial Holdings Statements at the Summary Level is being withdrawn and a new holdings standard developed by NISO, entitled Serial Holdings Statements, is being approved in its place. This article compares the two standards, and describes the changes users will need to make when adopting the new standard.     

Encountering COUNTER 5

Abstract

To make fiscally and academically responsible selection and deselection of subscribed content, it is critically important to have reasonably accessible usage data for those resources. To this end, the organizers of Project Counting Online Usage of NeTworked Electronic Resources (COUNTER) initiated the development of a standard known as the COUNTER Code of Practice. Beginning with the year 2019, COUNTER 5 standardized usage reports are available for most commercially published electronic information resources such as online journals, aggregated research databases, and ebooks. This column explores some of the differences between the COUNTER 5 Title Master Report-Journal Report (TR-JR1) report and the COUNTER 4 JR1 report for online journal usage and offers some assistance in extracting specific data from the TR-JR1 report that is not as readily visible as it was in COUNTER 4 reports.     

Reviews

Abstract

Beth Ashmore reviews The Purpose-Based Library: Finding Your Path to Survival, Success and Growth; Scott Johnson reviews Metaliteracy in Practice; Catherine Johnson reviews Teaching Information Literacy Reframed: 50+ Framework-Based Exercises for Creating Information-Literate Learners; Adolfo G. Prieto reviews Dynamic Research Support for Academic Libraries.     

Best Practices for Presentation of E-journal Titles on Provider Web Sites and in Other E-content Products

As a result of inaccurate displays of journal metadata in e-content access tools and on Web sites, researchers and readers do not find the content they are seeking, and the full value of e-content services is not realized. A group will be formed later this year to develop a set of NISO best practices for presentation of e-journal titles, provision of correct ISSN information, and other basic bibliographic data on provider Web sites and in other e-content products.     

COUNTER and Usage Data: A Two-Part Webinar

COUNTER and Usage Data: A Two-Part Webinar was offered through the joint cooperation of NISO (National Information Standards Organization) and Project COUNTER (Counting Online Usage of NeTworked Electronic Resources). The first part was held May 6, 2009, and consisted of three presentations. Opening remarks were made by Todd Carpenter, managing director of NISO, who also moderated the session. The second part was held May 13, and also consisted of three presentations. Opening remarks for this session were made by Karen Wetzel, standards program manager of NISO, who also moderated the session.     

A semi-parametric additive model for variance heterogeneity

This paper presents a flexible model for variance heterogeneity in a normal error model. Specifically, both the mean and variance are modelled using semi-parametric additive models. We call this model a Mean And Dispersion Additive Model (MADAM). A successive relaxation algorithm for fitting the model is described and justified as maximizing a penalized likelihood function with penalties for lack of smoothness in the additive non-parametric functions in both mean and variance models. The algorithm is implemented in GLIM4, allowing flexible and interactive modelling of variance heterogeneity. Two data sets are used for demonstration.