NFAIS RELEASES DRAFT DISCOVERY SERVICE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT

(February 2, 2012) The National Federation of Advanced Information Services (NFAIS™) has posted a draft Discovery Service Code of Practice for review and comment by March 16, 2012.  NFAIS believes that discovery services have the potential to provide ease of information discovery, access, and use, benefitting not only its member organizations, but also the global community of information seekers. However, the relative newness of these services has generated questions and concerns among information providers and librarians as to how these services meet expectations with regard to issues related to traditional search and retrieval services; e.g. usage reports, ranking algorithms, content coverage, updates, product identification, etc. Accordingly, this document has been developed to assist those who choose to use this new distribution channel through the provision of guidelines that will help avoid the disruption of the delicate balance of interests involved. 

NFAIS is inviting all members of the information community to review the draft and submit questions and comments for consideration by the Code Development Task Force. Background information and the draft Code can be accessed at: http://info.nfais.org/info/codedraftintroduction.pdf.

We want to hear from you.  Are there other issues to be considered?  Who do they impact? What solutions should be considered? All comments are welcome and can be submitted online at:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RV257LM.  Alternatively a marked up document or written comments can be submitted to Bonnie Lawlor, NFAIS Executive Director, via the contact numbers listed below.

About NFAIS

Founded in 1958, NFAIS is a membership organization of more than 60 of the world's leading producers of databases and related information services, information technology, and library services in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, business, and the arts and humanities. For more information on NFAIS and its member organizations, contact Jill O'Neill, Director of Communication and Planning (jilloneill@nfais.org or (215)-893-1561) or visit the NFAIS web site (www.nfais.org). For more information on this Code of Practice, contact Bonnie Lawlor, NFAIS Executive Director, 1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1004, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-893-1561 Phone, 215-893-1564 Fax, blawlor@nfais.org.