Establishing a Standard Workflow for License Alternatives

Abstract

The aim of this research is to establish a standard of practice for license alternatives to fill the existing gap in library literature. This is a new concept, but there is enough knowledge of best practices of licensing that will apply to alternatives. Much of the life cycle of electronic resources with and without licenses remains the same; therefore, a workflow can be framed for alternatives. Kansas State University created a standard workflow for managing license alternatives in its management systems Verde and Alma. We based this standard on the differences between licenses and their conventional alternatives, the NISO Shared Electronic Resource Understanding, as well as terms of use without registered or signed agreement. After considering the acquisition and review practices of license alternatives, a discussion of interlibrary loan as well as enforcing terms in the patron community will be offered. Interlibrary loan staff will easily interpret their procedures of Fair Use based on documentation in the ERM.