Association of Research Libraries (ARL)

NISO’s Shared E-Resource Understanding (SERU) Working Group has posted its first public draft best practices document on its Web site. This document, “The SERU Approach to E-Resource Subscriptions: Framework for Development and Use of SERU,” presents a shared set of understandings to which publishers and libraries can point when negotiating the sale of electronic content. The framework offers publishers and libraries a solution to the often-burdensome process of bilateral negotiation of a formal license agreement by allowing the sale of e-resources without licenses if both parties feel their perception of risk has been adequately addressed by current law and developing norms of behavior.

The SERU Working Group welcomes comments on its draft document. Please direct comments and suggestions to Judy Luther (judy.luther@informedstrategies.com) or Karla Hahn (karla@arl.org), the working group co-chairs, or any other member of the working group. The SERU project also maintains an informational listserv where comments can be shared along with announcements of future developments with the project. Information on joining the list is available on the project’s Web site.

Following the initial comment period, a revised draft version will be made available in late May for trial use during 2007. During this pilot phase, publishers wishing to sell their products using a SERU approach will be able to join a NISO registry to indicate their willingness to forego a license agreement and rely on the shared expectations expressed in the Common Understanding statement. Publishers can also indicate to serials vendors and to customers their desire to do business in this way. The registry is under development; however, publishers and libraries that are interested in using this approach during the review period are encouraged to contact one of the working group chairs now.

SERU was launched in late 2006 in partnership with the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP), the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), and the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP). More information about the SERU Working Group, including FAQs and an electronic mailing list, can be found at http://www.niso.org/committees/SERU/.