From: Cynthia Hodgson <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:37:16 -0400

NISO Launches New Initiative to Develop Recommended Practices for
Demand-Driven Acquisition (DDA) of Monographs

Interested participants from all library types, publishers, and service
agencies are encouraged to contact NISO

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) voting members have
approved a new project to develop recommended practices for the
Demand-Driven Acquisition (DDA) of Monographs. Many libraries have embraced
DDA (also referred to as patron-driven acquisition) to present many more
titles to their patrons for potential use and purchase than would ever be
feasible under the traditional purchase model. If implemented correctly, DDA
can make it possible to purchase only what is needed, allowing libraries to
spend the same amount of money as they previously spent on monographs, but
with a higher rate of use. However, this model requires libraries to develop
and implement new procedures for adding titles to a "consideration pool",
for keeping unowned titles available for purchase for some future period,
often years after publication, for providing discovery methods of titles in
the pool, establishing rules on when a title gets purchased or only
temporarily leased, and how potential titles are discovered, and for
handling of multiple formats of a title.

"DDA is a significant disruption in the existing supply chain for
monographs," explains Michael Levine-Clark, Collections Librarian and
Professor at Penrose Library, University of Denver, "not only for libraries
but also for publishers, sales agents, aggregators, and end users. New roles
and practices need to be shaped in a way that allows the scholarly
communication supply chain to continue to function effectively."

"Most DDA to date has focused on e-books," states Kathleen Folger,
Electronic Resources Officer at the University of Michigan and the outgoing
chair of the NISO Business Information Topic Committee. "However, some
programs already encompass print books and there is increased interest in
libraries in using DDA across formats. The new NISO initiative will explore
recommendations, hopefully with a single set of practices, that will cover
both electronic and print formats."

"Most libraries that have experimented with DDA have been in the academic
sector," states Todd Carpenter, NISO Executive Director. "NISO intends to
involve the public library community with this project and develop
recommendations that can work for all library types."

Individuals interested in participating in this working group should contact
Nettie Lagace, Associate Director for Programs ([log in to unmask]). An
interest group list for this project will be available for those who would
like to receive updates on the Working Group's progress and provide feedback
to the group on its work. To subscribe, send an e-mail to
[log in to unmask]

Cynthia Hodgson
Technical Editor / Consultant
National Information Standards Organization
[log in to unmask]