KBART: Improving Access to Electronic Resources through Better Linking.

Knowledge Bases and Related Tools (KBART) is a project concerned with the optimal implementation of the OpenURL specification. As a collaborative effort between the United Kingdom Serials Group (UKSG) and the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and co-chaired by presenter Peter McCracken, its goal is to establish best practices to be used by content providers, aggregators, electronic resource management (ERM) system vendors, and libraries. Their concerted efforts are ultimately there to improve access to electronic resources for the end user, that is, the library patron. The KBART working group is identifying and pointing out problems in the use of OpenURL to those who provide the data and is further engaged in education and advocacy to assist the involved parties in finding solutions to those problems. A report is in progress that includes best practice recommendations on what type of data to provide and how to deliver the data. There are also topics under discussion related to error reporting, the methods of educating the involved parties, and how to incorporate the specific needs of individual libraries. The report to be delivered by the KBART working group is well under way but remains at the same time open for discussion and future input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]