In early 2006, UKSG commissioned a research report (Link Resolvers and the Serials Supply Chain) that identified and described a range of problems affecting the efficiency of OpenURL linking. The report recommended the creation of a group that would determine and promote "best practice" solutions for the overall community to improve the exchange of metadata with knowledge bases.

The KBART (Knowledge Bases And Related Tools) working group has been set up to progress the recommendations of the research report. The group is co-chaired by NISO and is working to improve the supply of data to link resolvers and knowledge bases, by:

1. developing and publishing guidelines for best practice to effect smoother interaction between members of the knowledge base supply chain. Knowledge base providers and their customers (primarily academic libraries) benefit from provision of higher quality data by content providers. Publishers benefit from accurate linking to their content and subsequently the possibility of increased usage.
   The first set of guidelines is now available (PDF 517kb | HTML)

2. providing educational events that will address the roles of each (relevant) party in the supply chain, the functions each needs to carry out to improve supply of data to knowledge bases, and the value of doing so in each case. Content providers benefit from a greater understanding of the needs and activities of those to whom they supply data; knowledge base providers and libraries again benefit from improvements that can be expected when content providers are better informed.

3. delivering a centralised information portal, to support educational activities and provide a comprehensive resource for further learning, e.g.:

   • Glossary
   • Entry-level explanation of OpenURL: purpose, methodology, value
   • Introduction to knowledge base supply chain parties: roles, needs, responsibilities, value
   • FAQ

 Background

The group was publicly launched by UKSG and NISO in January 2008.

• view the Phase I report and recommendations (PDF 517kb | HTML)
• view the launch announcement
• view a list of members
• view the tender document for the original research project
• view a report on progress during the research project's term
• view the final research report, Link Resolvers and the Serials Supply Chain
• sign up for updates on the group's progress
  • progress update, April 2008 (PDF)
    
  • progress update, June 2008 (PDF)
  • progress update, October 2008 (PDF)
  • progress update, February 2009 (PDF)