ITIL is a living framework. To continue to offer best practice guidelines it must evolve with time, to reflect developments in both the business and IT worlds. To ensure that this is the case, it is 'refreshed' or updated every few years.

Following its original release, the first ITIL refresh and re-publication came in 2000. From there, although ITIL continued to increase in popularity, it was not until December 2005 that the OGC announced that there would be another refresh, which became known widely as ITIL v3. A process was defined and a timetable was set.

In December 2006 the authors of the refresh were announced (two per book). The process was up and running.

THE ITIL REFRESH

The refresh process comprised of what were known as tranches, of which there were four:

1) Creation of 'web-based products' to support the authors

2) Publication of a new set of core books:
- Service Strategies
- Service Design
- Service Introduction
- Service Operation
- Continuous Service Improvement

3) & 4) Creation of study aids for the Foundation & other exams

In addition, there was be a clear translation process, and alignmnent with ISO 20000 was maintained, and strengthened.

The new volumes were finally published by TSO in May 2007. These are the current ITIL Service Management Practices.