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NASIGuide: OpenURL
by Morag Boyd August 2004 What is OpenURL? OpenURL is a syntax for Universal Resource Locators (URLs) that carry metadata instead of the address of a specific web page. The information carried by an OpenURL is often an article citation. In addition, OpenURLs can use existing standards such as DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and Z39.50 to create these links. OpenURL is a National Information Standards Organization (NISO) standard Z39.88-2000X. It was released as a draft standard for use beginning May 1, 2003 and was approved as a standard following a voting period of January 26-March 10, 2004. The approved standard is being prepared for official publication. What does an OpenURL look like? For example, this citation could be found in a database: Lagace, Nettie. (2003). "The Open URL and SFX Linking." Serials Librarian 44 (1/2): 77-89. http://openurllinkresolver.library.org/main?sid=LibraryLit&genre=article&issn=0361-526X Why was OpenURL developed? OpenURLs were developed to solve the problem of moving users from citations to the electronic full-text that was available to them. OpenURLs dynamically created links to specific content. Who uses OpenURL? How do they use them? Information providers can OpenURL-enable their products to facilitate linking to and from electronic resources. An information provider may enable its products to function as "sources," "targets," or both. OpenURL sources are information providers who can generate OpenURLs dynamically within their databases. Sources are often abstracting and indexing databases. The most common use of OpenURL is to link to external full text from a citation. OpenURL targets are information providers that can be queried by OpenURLs. Targets are often online full-text content providers. For a target to work optimally with OpenURL it should have a persistent and uniform method of querying or linking, but the target does not need to be specifically handling OpenURLs. Libraries use OpenURL to move users effectively from citations, usually in databases, to full-text. Other tools such as the online catalog can be integrated into OpenURL services. OpenURLs are persistent so they can also be used for course reserves, bibliographies, in the catalog, etc. It is also possible to generate other user tools, such as A-Z e-journal list or known item searches. There are many more possibilities for using OpenURL. While OpenURL has typically been used for article citations, it can also be used to link to any web-accessible item, from audio and video files, virtual reference services, interlibrary loan forms, and so on. How do I implement OpenURL at my library? For a library to begin using OpenURL, it must implement an OpenURL link resolver. A link resolver is software that maintains a profile of the full-text available to users as well as the "instructions" on how to link into targets. Link resolvers usually reside on a server that directs incoming and outgoing traffic; the name of this server is the base URL for that institution. Link resolvers are available commercially from a several sources. Products include Endeavor LinkFinder Plus, Ex Libris SFX, Openly Informatics 1cate, SerialsSolutions Article Finder, and TD Net TOUR. These vendors provide "knowledgebases" of coverage and linking programs to targets that can be customized by an institution. Because OpenURL is based on a published, open-access standard, it is also possible for an institution to develop a link resolver independently. Once a link resolver is ready to accept OpenURLs for an institution, a library must work with sources to turn on OpenURL linking in each product. For more information: Websites NISO: http://www.niso.org/ Draft Standard: http://www.niso.org/standards/resources/Z39-88-all-draft.pdf Status: http://www.niso.org/standards/standard_detail.cfm?std_id=783 Articles Walker, Jenny. "OpenURL and SFX Linking." The Serials Librarian 45, no. 3 (2003): 87-100. Bekaert, Jeroen, Balakireva, Lyudmila and Hochstenbach, Patrick. "Using MPEG-21 DIP and NISO OpenURL for the Dynamic Dissemination of Complex Digital Objects in the Los Alamos National Laboratory Digital Library." D-Lib Magazine 10, no. 2 (2004) Available http://www.dlib.org/dlib/february04/bekaert/02bekaert.html Hendricks, Arthur. "The Development of the NISO Committee AX's OpenURL Standard." Information Technology and Libraries 22, no. 3 (2003): 129-133. Dahl, Mark. "Building an OpenURL Resolver in Your Own Workshop." Computers in Libraries 24, no. 2 (2004): 6-8+. |
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