The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) is a non-profit trade association focused on developing and maintaining standards for information and documentation. NISO engages various stakeholders, including libraries, publishers, and technology providers, to ensure interoperability and best practices within the digital resource community. Their efforts include fostering the adoption of standards, education, and transparency in the standard development process.

1. The World Wants
Interoperability: NISO and
Community-Driven Standards
CHINA-U.S. FORUM ON STANDARDS FOR DIGITAL RESOURCES
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 19, 2018
NETTIE LAGACE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAMS,
NATIONAL INFORMATION STANDARDS ORGANIZATION
NLAGACE@NISO.ORG / @ABUGSEYE

2. About NISO
Non-profit industry trade association accredited by ANSI with 150+ members
Mission of developing and maintaining standards related to information,
documentation, discovery and distribution of published materials and media
Represent U.S. interests to ISO TC 46 (Information and Documentation) and also serve
as Secretariat for ISO TC46/SC9 (Identification and Description). New in 2017: TAG for
ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34 - Document description and processing languages
Responsible for standards such as ISSN, DOI, Dublin Core metadata, DAISY digital
talking books, OpenURL, SIP, NCIP, MARC records and ISBN (indirectly)
Volunteer-driven organization: 400+ across the world
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4. NISO’s Make-Up
33% Library Systems Suppliers,
Publishing Vendors & Intermediaries
33% Libraries/Library
Organizations
130 LSA Members
(non-voting)
35% Publishers/
Publishing Organizations
ANSI
Other
SDOs
ISO

5. NISO…
• Creates, publishes and maintains standards
and best practices
• Fosters adoption of existing standards
• Educates the community on technology-related
issues
• Incubates thought leadership activities to
advance technology
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6. Standards for Community Practice
Standards can be used to:
• Make sure things work together
• Ensure things are done the same way
• Help people understand what/how to do
something
• Understand what consumers/users are getting
• Build trust among suppliers and customers and
users

7. NISO Areas of Work & Example Projects
Information Creation & Curation Topic Committee
◦ JATS and STS
◦ E-Book Metadata Working Group
◦ Z39.19, Z39.29
Information Policy & Assessment Topic Committee
◦ SERU
◦ Transfer
◦ Altmetrics Initiative
Information Discovery & Interchange Topic Committee
◦ Open Discovery Initiative
◦ KBART
◦ Access & License Indicators

8. Definitions and Principles
Balance: no single interest category constitutes a majority of
the membership / voting pool / working group: producer, user,
general interest
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Recommended PracticeStandard
Consensus: respond to all comments and make efforts to
resolve negative votes, even if proposal is approved
Open process: allowing members and the
community to have confidence in NISO standards.

9. NISO Standards Development Principles
Transparency & Openness
Broad consensus
Balance / Lack of Dominance
Notification of Standards Development
Coordination & Harmonization
Consideration of views
Appeals
Written Procedures Govern

10. NISO Working Group Process
NISO Approval
Working Group formed
Scope & determine deliverables
Gather input
Produce draft output
Public review
Respond & Modify
Publish final version
Market/Educate
Maintain & Update

11. Marketing for Better Uptake
NISO Standing Committees
◦ Formed following publication of Document
◦ Same balance of Stakeholders
◦ Responsible for
◦ Awareness
◦ Support
◦ Education
◦ Determinate when Recommended Practice/Standard should
be updated

13. What About NISO Compliance?
• NISO does nor formally measure compliance/create scores – all standards and
recommended practices are voluntary [not regulatory]
• Some NISO Standing Committees maintain Registries
• ODI
• KBART
• SUSHI
• Other compliance-related activities
• Circulate surveys
• Education sessions
• Include adherence to standards in RFPs
• Good Citizen

14. For regular updates from NISO

15. Standards do the Heavy Lifting!

16. Questions?
nlagace@niso.org
@abugseye