NISO Announces Updated Version of ResourceSync Framework Specification
Baltimore, MD - February 16, 2017 - The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) is pleased to announce the formal publication of an updated version of the ResourceSync Framework Specification (ANSI/NISO Z39.99-2017). Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), this 1.1 revision improves a web standard that details various capabilities that a server can implement to allow third-party systems to remain synchronized with evolving resources. Such synchronization is important in the current landscape where Web-based content-not only the metadata about the content-is constantly changing.
ResourceSync was first published as ANSI/NISO Z39.99 in 2014. The standard, also known as the ResourceSync "core" specification, offers a range of easy-to-implement capabilities that a server may support in order to enable remote systems to remain more tightly in step with its evolving resources. It also describes how a server should advertise the facilities it supports, and presents plentiful examples and use cases that offer guidance for implementation. The recent revisions to the standard, which is pull-based, reflect changes to fix problems related to the conflation of last modification date of a resource and the datetime of notification of a change to the resource.
"Web resources and collections of web resources are continually evolving and, in many cases, applications that want to leverage these resources need to be confident that the data they use is the most up-to-date available," says Herbert Van de Sompel, Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory, OAI Executive, and Co-chair of the ResourceSync Working Group. "Our revision to the ResourceSync core specification strengthens a standard that addresses a core need for resource discovery and synchronization across different systems in domains such as scholarly communication, cultural heritage, and education. ResourceSync is very modular in design and is based on the HTTP and Sitemap protocols to ensure easy uptake in many applications, including-but not limited to-timely sharing data from different types of repositories. Also, associated optional specifications provide extensions to the ANSI/NISO ResourceSync core. These include specifications to support archives of synchronization information and push-based change notification."
"One of NISO's core functions is keeping our standards reliable and up to date," explains NISO Executive Director Todd Carpenter. "We're grateful to the ResourceSync working group whose efforts make this publication more valuable to those whose work relies on seamless updating of information. NISO also strives to create guidelines that are adaptable at various levels and for various needs. ResourceSync's modular capabilities can be customized for specific local or community requirements, making them useful for the range of institutions that use our standards."
The ResourceSync specification and video tutorials on using the ANSI/NISO Z39.99-2017 standard are available on the NISO website at www.niso.org/workrooms/resourcesync/.
About NISO
NISO, based in Baltimore, Maryland, 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 information standards. NISO is a not-for-profit association accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). For more information, visit the NISO website.
About OAI
The Open Archives Initiative (OAI) develops and promotes interoperability standards that aim to facilitate the efficient dissemination of content. The Open Archives Initiative has its roots in an effort to enhance access to e-print archives as a means of increasing the availability of scholarly communication. Continued support of this work remains a cornerstone of the Open Archives program. OAI is committed to exploring and enabling the fundamental technological framework and standards to open up access to a range of digital materials.
