The Open URL

By

Melodie Hamilton,

Connecticut College

The OpenURL

What are OpenURLs?How do they work exactly?What is SFX?What’s so “special” about SFX, and how

easy is it to maintain?

History of the OpenURL & SFX

Initial concept developed at the University of Ghent by Herbert Van de Sompel (now at the British Library)

His product, now known as SFX, was acquired by ExLibris in 2000, and has been sold to nearly 200 customers in some 20 countries

Responding to user needs

Users want seamless access to e-journalsStudents feel frustrated with too many

steps trying to use library resourcesWith vast amounts of information now

available, expectations are high: students want it any time, anywhere

Speed is the key today: fast computers, fast connections, and fast delivery of resources

Static URLs

Static URLs are location dependent: link refers to a single copy of a resource at one location

Static URLs cannot take into consideration the user’s affiliation with the library

Static URLs must be verified periodically

The OpenURL

The nature of the OpenURL is tied directly to the article and not a specific location

Resolution service (SFX) resolves the OpenURL to a copy or a set of services appropriate for that user: SFX can also retrieve multiple versions of a full-text article regardless of where it is located

The OpenURL

Provides context-sensitive linkingCombines full-text and extended services

with user authentificationThe OpenURL contains elements that

identify the user and information about the desired article

SFX Considerations

Publishers and aggregators must use OpenURLs rather than traditional URLs in order for SFX to work

Librarians determine what services the library will offer: what options a search in a database will provide

In addition to full-text, librarians define what extended services will be offered, including links to the OPAC, abstracts, ILL services, and search engines

More SFX Considerations

Be aware that each vender presents SFX differently; this can be challenging to the user

Not all products can be linked to SFX; users must be made aware which products are SFX-enabled

Sources

Collins, Maria D. D., and Christine L. Ferguson. “Context-Sensitive Linking: It’s a Small World After All.” Serials Review 28:4 (2002) : 267-282.

Gerrity, Bob, Lyman, Theresa, and Ed Tallent. “Blurring Services and Resources: Boston College’s implementation of MetaLib and SFX.” Reference Services Review 30:3 (2002) : 229-241.

Needleman, Mark. “The OpenURL: an Emerging Standard for Linking.” Serials Review 28:1 (2002) : 74-76.

Schneider, Karen G. “SFX: a Linkalicious Service.” American Libraries June/July 2001 : 118.