New Requirements
Standards
Have you ever wondered why a USB cord can universally fit any USB port on any device? Industry standards make it possible for manufacturers to create products uniformly.
Standards are important agreed-upon specifications for industry products. They are also commonly used in scholarly research. They determine how a product is made so that it is standardized and consistent across manufacturers.
Rationale
The complex and increasing number and cost of standards, as well as the restrictions of formats and intellectual property use, limits access for libraries to obtain, collect, and share standards.
Policy
KU Libraries do not purchase single-use standards. Instead, subscription-based access to standards is available through select providers. These subscriptions are evaluated annually, and access is amended as budgets allow.
Contact
For questions not addressed by this guide, reach out to the Ask A Librarian service or submit a request to Interlibary Loan (ILL).
