Issue Description:

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 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 -- those who are important in the world of professional and scholarly publishing.

2005 and 2006 have been particularly active, with open access and government regulation issues commanding our attention, particularly the how the NIH policy and proposed Federal research access legislation issues affect scientific and government information 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. The Glossary is a valuable reference guide to the issues and the players in this confusing arena of public policy.