SERU

Logo with the word “SERU” in bold letters. The “S” is green and stylized with blocks and a circle, while the rest of the letters are dark blue. Below, it says “Shared Electronic Resource Understanding” in green text.

Shared Electronic Resource Understanding (SERU) is a 2012 standard developed by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) that serves as an alternative to traditional license agreements. Aiming to reduce the time spent on negotiations between libraries and content providers, parties may consider using SERU if appropriate for the cost structure, type of resources, length of term, or the background of the publisher. The following resources provide an overview of the standard, resources to effectuate its use, and an analysis of the standards' adoption.

🌐 NISO Standard - SERU: A Shared Electronic Resource Understanding - 2012

  • The text of the NISO standard, commonly linked to in SERU agreements in addition to a description of the resources involved in the understanding. It’s important to note that, while referenced in the standard, approaches to interlibrary loan are not prescribed in detail. Be sure to discuss this with vendors to ensure acceptable terms and conditions to digitally lend resources accessed via SERU. 

🌐 NISO SERU Registry

  • A centralized registry for content providers and interested institutions to indicate their support for utilizing SERU in lieu of licenses. Review the final column (SERU Notes/Pricepoint Restrictions) to note conditional uses of the standard and consider what parameters may apply to your institution or organization in adopting SERU. 

📜 Adoption of NISO’s Shared Electronic Resource Understanding (SERU) at US Academic Libraries, written by Sunshine Jacinda Carter - 2019

  • This article examines the adoption and impact of SERUs on licensing and negotiation practices in academic libraries in the United States. Following a literature review on the evolution of licensing practices, it explores the current landscape of digital resource licensing, from local negotiation support and use of model language resources to specific aspects of SERU usage, including satisfaction and frequency of recommending SERUs over traditional licenses.

📗 Example SERU from Managing Licensed E-Resources: Techniques, Tips, and Practical Advice, edited by Galadriel Chilton - 2022

  • A SERU template that describes the elements in one institution’s alternative vendor agreements. 

CC BY-NA-SA license: Creative Commons license icon with symbols representing "Attribution" (a person icon), "NonCommercial" (a crossed-out dollar sign), and "ShareAlike" (a circular arrow). This indicates the work can be shared and adapted with credit, for non-commercial purposes only, and must be distributed under the same license.

This toolkit is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 License.