> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.lorcandempsey.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Resolving the serials supply chain
- URL: https://www.lorcandempsey.net/resolving-the-serials-supply-chain/
- Published: 2007-05-29T18:48:20.000Z
- Updated: 2020-10-28T09:33:56.000Z
- Author: Lorcan Dempsey
- Tags: Collections, Systems

*Link resolvers and the serials supply chain* \[[pdf](https://www.uksg.org/sites/uksg.org/files/uksg%5Flink%5Fresolvers%5Ffinal%5Freport.pdf?ref=lorcandempsey.net)\] is the title of an interesting report commissioned by the UK Serials Group and written by James Culling. From the summary:

> The current knowledge base data supply chain is characterized by a complex series of roles, relationships and inter-dependencies between publishers, other content hosts, subscription agents, link resolver suppliers, libraries and others. \[*Link resolvers and the serials supply chain* [pdf](https://www.uksg.org/sites/uksg.org/files/uksg%5Flink%5Fresolvers%5Ffinal%5Freport.pdf?ref=lorcandempsey.net)\]

The report argues that a lack of understanding between these stakeholders results in many inefficiencies.

> It could be said that whilst the community’s attention has been mostly focused on what it means to be *OpenURL compliant*, a code of practice and information standards to ensure *knowledge base compliance* and the efficient transfer of data through the supply chain have been sorely absent and overlooked. \[*Link resolvers and the serials supply chain* [pdf](https://www.uksg.org/sites/uksg.org/files/uksg%5Flink%5Fresolvers%5Ffinal%5Freport.pdf?ref=lorcandempsey.net)\]

The report discusses issues from different stakeholder perspective. It recommends the establishment of an organization which brings stakeholders together around a “code of practice for effective participation in the knowledge base supply chain”. [Counter](https://www.projectcounter.org/?ref=lorcandempsey.net) is suggested as a model.  
My colleague Phil Norman alerted me to the publication of the report.