Serials Solutions Releases Open-Source Code for SUSHI Client

Librarians and content providers can use code to build standards-based SUSHI utilities for enhanced COUNTER report processes

May 21, 2009 - Serials Solutions, in cooperation with NISO, today announced the public release of the code to the new standards-based Serials Solutions Open-Source SUSHI client. This code, drafted for use with SUSHI servers at ProQuest, CSA, and Chadwyck-Healey, can be used by additional content providers to test SUSHI servers and by libraries to create SUSHI clients to harvest provider reports.
"Serials Solutions is taking the lead in creating the first testing tool for SUSHI servers," says Tae Kim, Software Developer and working group member of the SUSHI maintenance committee. "This is a big step toward making SUSHI more interoperable, so that librarians can seamlessly harvest the reports they need for cost-per-use and other usage reporting."

Supporting NISO's Standard Usage Statistics Harvesting Initiative Protocol (http://www.niso.org/workrooms/sushi), the Serials Solutions open source SUSHI client code will enable libraries to build consistent, stable, and standards-based tools. It is the first release of what the maintenance committee hopes will be many open source toolkits for libraries.

Todd Carpenter, Managing Director of NISO, says, "This action by Serials Solutions is another example of the company's deep commitment to promoting the adoption of open standards in our community. It is in every organization's interest to see SUSHI succeed, and collaboratively developing the software tools necessary is critical to the standard's success. Having open source code that anyone can implement should certainly help to encourage SUSHI adoption. On behalf of the entire information community, we are grateful for this action by Serials Solutions."

Content providers must implement SUSHI by the end of August in order to remain compliant with Release 3 of the COUNTER Code of Practice for Journals and Databases. Libraries or content providers interested in the Serials Solutions open source SUSHI client can access the code at http://code.google.com/p/sushicounterclient/. For more information about the SUSHI open source code release, visit the NISO SUSHI website, contact Serials Solutions at 1-866-SERIALS, email 360@serialssolutions.com, or visit www.serialssolutions.com.

About NISO
NISO (the National Information Standards Organization) fosters the development and maintenance of standards that facilitate the creation, persistent management, and effective interchange of information so that it can be trusted for use in research and learning. To fulfill this mission, NISO engages libraries, publishers, information aggregators, and other organizations that support learning, research, and scholarship through the creation, organization, management, and curation of knowledge. NISO works with intersecting communities of interest and across the entire lifecycle of an information standard. NISO is a not-for-profit association accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). More information about NISO is available at www.niso.org.

About Serials Solutions
Founded by a librarian for librarians in 2000, Serials Solutions is the global leader in E-Resource Access and Management Services (ERAMS) that serves more than 2,000 libraries of all sizes and types. Serials Solutions® KnowledgeWorks, the authoritative e-resource knowledgebase, is the foundation for Serials Solutions® 360, the only complete and integrated e-resource access and management solution. Serials Solutions recently introduced the Summon unified discovery service, a revolutionary discovery tool that provides instant access to the full breadth of the library's collection through a single search.

Serials Solutions also is the exclusive source for Ulrichs Global Serials Intelligence and represents the AquaBrowser Library® unified discovery interface in the academic market in North America. The WebFeat® federated search service recently acquired by ProQuest soon will be incorporated into the Serials Solutions family of access and discovery services.

Serials Solutions provides fast implementation, easy customization, and outstanding value to libraries throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.serialssolutions.com or call 1-866-SERIALS. Serials Solutions is a division of ProQuest LLC.

About ProQuest LLC
ProQuest creates specialized information resources and technologies that propel successful research and lifelong learning. A global leader in serving libraries of all types, ProQuest offers the culmination of experience from many respected brands, including CSA, UMI®, Chadwyck-Healey, SIRS®, and eLibrary®. With Serials Solutions®, Ulrich's, RefWorks®, COS, and Dialog® brands now in the ProQuest family, the company continues to build on its legacy of responsive people in partnership with librarians.

ProQuest consistently seeks new ways to support researchers and quality research. More than a content provider or aggregator, ProQuest is an information partner, creating indispensable research solutions that connect people and information. Through innovative, user-centered technology, ProQuest offers a depth and breadth of global content that includes historical newspapers, dissertations, and uniquely relevant resources for researchers of any age and sophistication--including content not likely to be digitized by others. Inspired by its customers and end users, ProQuest is working toward a future that blends information accessibility with community to further enhance learning and encourage lifelong enrichment. For more information, visit www.proquest.com or the ProQuest parent company website, www.cambridgeinformationgroup.com.

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