[nfais-l] NFAIS Publishes its Recommended Practices for Discovery Services

[Bonnie Lawlor]

NFAIS Recommended Practices for Discovery Services

 

The National Federation of Advanced Information Services (NFAIS
<http://www.nfais.org/> T) released its Recommended Practices for  Discovery
Services on August 30, 2013.  The document can be accessed at:
http://info.nfais.org/info/Recommended_Practices_Final_Aug_2013.pdf.  Our
goal is that these Practices contribute to an awareness of the issues
surrounding Discovery Service relationships (usage reports, ranking
algorithms, content coverage, branding, etc.) and that it will create an
understanding of how these issues can impact each participant. 

 

While involvement in a Discovery Service may not be an appropriate business
decision for all types of information providers (see Appendix B of the
document) nor cost effective for all libraries and information centers, the
Recommended Practices can serve as a point of reference in the development
of contractual agreements for those who are considering participation (or
considering renewing an existing relationship).  However, the document does
not offer a model contract, but rather provide a set of guiding principles
from which contractual terms can be negotiated.

 

It should be noted that the Recommended Practices were developed to be the
ideal towards which the Information Community should strive as technology
advances, even if today's technology presents barriers to full
implementation.  It is also a living document that will be revisited on a
regular basis, with the first of ongoing reviews and potential updates being
scheduled to begin in March 2014.  We are aware that as participants in
Discovery Services gain experience over time their views of the services
change (see comparison of the 2010 and 2012 surveys on Discovery service
participation at http://info.nfais.org/info/Survey_2010_2012_Comp.pdf).  In
preparation of the first update, the survey will be run again in January
2104 simply as a litmus test of changes that have taken place in the past
two years.

 

Please send any comments or suggestions that you believe should be
considered for inclusion the next iteration of the document.  Also, a
workshop is being developed on the next steps for Discovery Services and is
scheduled to take place in Philadelphia, PA on June 20, 2014. In the
interim, a virtual Roundtable Discussion is will be held to discuss the
Recommended Practices.

 

My sincere thanks to those who worked very hard to make there Recommended
Practices a reality. We look forward to receiving your input.

 

Bonnie Lawlor

NFAIS Executive Director

1518 Walnut Street

Suite 1004

Philadelphia, PA 19102 USA

215-893-1561 Phone

215-893-1564 Fax

blawlor at nfais.org

 

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