OpenURL Technology: An Introduction

1
OpenURL TechnologyAn Introduction
Technology Expo 4 March 21, 2006
Melissa Belvadi Systems and Services
Librarian Maryville University mbelvadi_at_maryville.
edu
2
Contents

• Definition of problem
• What is OpenURL?
• Database vendors support
• Buying an OpenURL product
• Examples of OpenURL products

3
THE PROBLEM
Citation is Here
Full Text is There
How many arrows does YOUR library have?
Or maybe only here
4
The Solution

• Link to an intermediate server that knows all
  your holdings and can pass the user along with
  just a click

JSTOR has it!
Click!
Click!
That server is the OpenURL resolver
5
Some OpenURL terminology

• Citation outbound source
• The source of the citation information
• (C-O-S)
• Full text inbound target
• Where the patron wants to end up
• (F-I-T)

6
More terminology

• Predictable URL
• A URL that can have a bit of text plugged into
  it and be sure to work.
• Examples
• III Catalogs
• http//bridges.missouri.edu/search/i?SEARCH0012-1
  234
• Amazon.com
• http//www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0387026207

7
OpenURL is a good solution for your library

• If many different vendors as sources and targets
• If source vendors support at least outbound
  predictable URL link

8
What the actual URL looks like
http//resolver1.sirsi.net/?genrearticlesidEBSC
Oissn0001-8899titleAdvertising20Ageatitle
KID20TV27S20STARS2Edate20050221volume76
issue8spage10 All one long string not
human-readable!
9
OpenURL can

• Take the patron DIRECTLY to the article
• Patron will not have to re-search citation in
  target database
• Compare dates
• Source citation date to holdings dates
• Only offer patrons targets with the right
  coverage
• Offer the best level of access possible for each
  target database
• database search-gt issue browse -gt exact article
• Feed the citation directly into an ILL form

10
OpenURL in action (1)
Link to OpenURL Server
11
OpenURL in action (2)
Link to Target with full text
12
OpenURL in action (3)
Direct to article on target!
13
OpenURL in action (4) Not just articles link to
MOBIUS
Options local catalog, MOBIUS, and WorldCat
14

• Database Vendors as Sources and Targets

15
EBSCOHost as Source

• EBSCOHost Library Administrator
• Linking tab - Custom Links
• Can make a pseudo-OpenURL link

16
EBSCOHost as Target

• Not quite direct to article - intermediate
  screen cant be bypassed

17
OCLC as Source

• FirstSearch Administrative Module
• Resource Sharing - OpenURL Links(not under
  Linking!)

18
OCLC as Source
Example shows OpenURL link
19
OCLC As Source

• OpenURL opens annoyingly small window without
  menus (cant change)

20
OCLC As Target - Exact Match
21
Proquest

• CrossLinks in Local Administrator
• Supports OpenURL both source and target

22
Proquest As Target
23
Thomson / Gale as Source and Target
This is the result of an inbound link, also shows
outbound link
24
WilsonWeb

• Fully source and target compliant with OpenURL -
  customize source icon

25

• Database Vendors
• Source admin in your account
• Target rules for URL to them

26
Buying an OpenURL Server

• Holdings file (knowledge base)
• Who maintains aggregate data?
• How will your catalog holdings be loaded and
  maintained? Date-level?
• Electronic ISSNs? Variant ISSNs (eg NYT, WSJ)?
• Additional free content (eg PubMed holdings)?
  (bonus content?)

27
Buying an OpenURL Server (2)

• Usage data for collection development what is
  and is not used
• Free (open source) options in-house expertise
  and tech support?
• Its ultimately about the content accuracy of
  the holdings data!
• Talk to other customers, set up free trial with
  YOUR data, esp. catalog data

28

• OpenURL products

29
SFX
30
Serials Solutions Article Linker
31
III WebBridge
32
1Cate
33
Endeavors LinkFinderPlus
34
EBSCOs LinkSource
EBSCO provides holdings for free full text too.
35
SIRSIs Resolver
36
OLinks (Ohiolink open source)
37
GODOT (ReSearcher open source)
38
Questions?