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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>NISO Launches E-book Special Interest Group <br>
</span></font></b><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>New group will foster collaborative work,
incubate new initiatives, and provide education</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and
its Architecture Committee are pleased to announce the creation of a Special
Interest Group focused on E-books (the NISO E-book SIG). Simultaneous with the
formation of the group, NISO is issuing a call for participation in the E-book
SIG and its associated monitoring group. The E-book SIG will explore a range of
industry best practices and standards related to the creation, distribution,
discovery, delivery, and preservation of digital book content. The primary
responsibilities of the group will be to continuously monitor and review the
state of the industry for e-books and to suggest areas for new initiatives
within NISO or areas where NISO can engage with other communities on e-book
work underway outside of NISO. The group will also host thought leader meetings
and commission relevant research to advance the state of the industry.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>While NISO is best known for shepherding groups focused on a
specific problem through the creation and implementation of recommended
practices and standards, NISO’s new strategic initiatives seek to widen
its outreach within the information industry. Specifically, the NISO Board and
Architecture Committee seek to emphasize NISO’s role as a facilitator
within the industry, one that can foster cross-community dialogue in a given
topical area and provide a place for the incubation of ideas even if no formal
standards process within NISO is ever initiated as a result. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In line with this strategy, the E-book SIG will explore the
larger context in which development initiatives are unfolding, by addressing
some of the following foundational questions:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>§ How can NISO actively facilitate
cross-community dialogue in this area, building bridges between what are now
separate, sometimes disparate groups?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>§ How can NISO work collaboratively to provide
education and information to assist with this dialogue?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>§ How can NISO actively foster “incubation
teams” to identify specific pain points in the e-books realm that could
be remedied through formal standards, recommended practices, dissemination of
information (e.g., via white papers, educational workshops, professional
forums, Thought Leader meetings, etc.) either through NISO or within another
agency or in partnership with one or more organizations?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Initially, the NISO E-book SIG will identify relevant ongoing
or proposed work related to e-books, then begin outreach to the communities
within the library, publishing, information system, and scholarly communication
communities actively engaged in some aspect of e-book development and
support. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The NISO Architecture committee is seeking nominations for
experts interested in actively participating in the core E-book SIG from all
areas of the community. In addition to the core group, a larger monitoring
group will also be established to receive updates from the core group and
provide feedback. NISO encourages any organization actively engaged in this
area to contact the NISO office via email (<a href="mailto:nisohq@niso.org"
target="_blank">nisohq@niso.org</a>) to participate. Please indicate if you are
interested in the core group or the monitoring group.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Jill O'Neill</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Director, Planning & Communication</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>NFAIS</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(v) 215-893-1561</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(email) jilloneill@nfais.org</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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