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In all business communities, standards development is a collaborative activity that requires the participation of all players in the value chain. This article looks at how NISO's current work, supported largely through a collaboration of vendors and libraries, relates to trends and innovations in library services management. It also gives insights into how the information community accomplishes its standards goals through multiple channels. Featured sections include historical perspectives on information standards and discussion of major influences on the development of next-generation standards affecting library management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationships are key to the success of any library project, and relations with the vendor's staff are too often overlooked or viewed as adversarial. Focusing on automated system and online electronic resource vendors, different functional departments of the vendor's staff are examined with an eye toward the benefits that a good relationship can bring to support the project. The evolving database marketplace is reviewed, particularly in light of the multiple buying cooperatives many public libraries find available to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews publisher and vendor use of library advisory boards. While they are not new to the information industry, library advisory boards have assumed new importance. From the industry perspective, library advisory boards provide valuable market feedback concerning products and services. For librarians, membership on library advisory boards is an opportunity to learn about new products, provide feedback on existing products, and better understand the information marketplace. Recent literature is reviewed and a number of publishers and vendors are surveyed. The uses and organization of advisory boards and their value to both companies and the library community are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]