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The British Standards Institute is offering a reduced-price version of its online standards database to help libraries provide local SMEs and members of the public with valuable information.

The BSI’s Standards Online (BSOL) product contains a register of more than 97,000 international standards, with information updated daily. The program is being made available for use in libraries in a special package that the BSI claims will be “sensitively priced” to reflect the fact that the deal covers “onsite-only access”.

“[This] model will encourage users to visit their local library, to gain access to the entire database of standards that range from construction to nanotechnology, from energy management to health and safety, from cricket balls to smart cars,” said the BSI’s head of subscription sales Deborah Brown, in a blog post.

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Newcastle Library is one institution that already uses BSOL as part of its Business and Intellectual Property Centre. The centre has been in operation since 2011 offering local businesses and entrepreneurs access to information, as well as advice, workshops, and networking events.

“Here in Newcastle, we are often viewed as a regional centre and are currently the only library service in the region to provide access to BSOL so our users come from all over the north east to view standards online in our libraries,” said Andrew Scrogham at Newcastle Library. “It’s really important that we can provide this key service to the businesses of the area – indeed not just established businesses but start-ups, pre start-ups, and those researching for other reasons – we have a huge student population in the city who regularly access our services too.”