NISO Fasten Project Develops Standards for Library APIs

In October, NISO released a draft of the Fasten standards for public comment. Said NISO Associate Executive Director Nettie Lagace in a press release,

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) seeks comments on a new draft Recommended Practice pertaining to the modernization of library-vendor technical interoperability using RESTful web service application programming interfaces (APIs) and standard mobile application intent calls. In the interest of streamlining information transfer between vendor and library systems, the scope of the draft FASTEN Recommended Practice touches on areas such as login/authentication, account information, availability, checkout, streaming options, and more. FASTEN is the acronym used for this initiative, more formally titled as the Flexible API Standard for E-Content NISO.

The objective behind the FASTEN initiative was to replace with more elegant solutions aging, inflexible, and hard-to-use enterprise tools. This required leaving behind disparate protocols, such as SIP, SIP2, proprietary interfaces, web proxy solutions, and more.

Christopher Carvey from Queens Library, who has been involved with the project from its inception, has commented to RF that “The coming standard will have many favorable implications [for] Library web automation, Library mobile applications, and getting eContent to our customers in an easier fashion. [It] will lead to simpler solutions with a lower bar of entry, and more flexible products for libraries. While this is not directly tied to licensing issues, it may give rise to more general interest from our audience, alternative and new licensing models, and other benefits for libraries.”

While the period for public comment is closed, one can view the draft here. Work will continue to develop the standards with public comments in mind.

ReadersFirst was launched with the goal of having the library digital content experience be seamless and easy for library readers. Providing a standard for ILS or other library interface, publisher content, and library vendor platforms interoperate seamlessly is an important step in realizing this goal. Thanks to the NISO Fasten team for their fine and visionary work, which RF encourages all library vendors to act upon.