Welcome: About the PSP Issues Glossary
The Public Issues Task Force has continued to update and improve the PSP Issues Glossary to connect today's issues facing PSP members and the environment in which we operate. The landscape of associations, government entities and other organizations trying to influence public policy on issues of critical importance to PSP has become confusing. It has been increasingly difficult to tell who represents whom and what position they are taking on important issues.
The PSP Issues Glossary, a reference guide for the perplexed, is available to PSP members through the PSP web site. It contains issues and buzzwords, and descriptive entries for organizations and entities that are "players" in the arena and those who are important in the world of professional and scholarly publishing.
The 2004 year has been particularly active, with open access (Access to Information) and government regulation (Government Competition) issues commanding our attention as OFAC and NIH affect scientific publishing. The Glossary database is by searchable by Issue categories, (copyright, distance education, archiving) and/or by subject or Entity categories, (libraries, associations, legislation). A search specifying "libraries" and "copyright", for example, would turn up descriptive entries for all library organizations that have been actively involved in the public debate on copyright. A simpler search based simply on "WIPO" would provide a description of the treaty. Each entry also contains links to organizational home pages, for further reference.
Where helpful, PITF has revised glossary terms reflecting current issue areas and added links directly to closely related websites. As designed, the Glossary is continuing to evolve and grow. PITF invites PSP members to suggest new entries or changes to existing ones. Send all feedback to: Feedback.
The Glossary is a valuable reference guide to the issues and the players in this confusing arena of public policy. Help the Public Issues Task Force continue to develop the Glossary.
F. Hill Slowinski
Editor, PSP Issues Glossary