Selden Deemer [e-mail]

1
OpenURL and SFX_at_Emory

• Selden Deemer libssd_at_emory.edu
• Emory University Libraries

2
URLs and the Web

• The World Wide Web is woven from URLs
• Most URLs act like shelf addresses or accession
  numbers

3
Finding Things with URLs

• Most URLs are not particularly useful finding
  aids, because they contain no inherent
  information (metadata) about the target
• What if the specific item you want isnt
  available?
• http//www.library.emory.edu/2003_0411_163108AA.J
  PG

4
OpenURL Call Number Analogy

• A call number is more than a way to find a book
  it contains implicit metadata
• QL 696 .C9 can be decomposed to
• A call number can be used as a starting point for
  other copies, similar works, and services

QL Zoology
696 Birds, systematic list (subdivisions, A-Z)
.C9 Cypseli (Swifts)
5
Origins of OpenURL

• Some URLS have structure implying content
• http//muse.jhu.edu/journals/callaloo/v024/24.3al
  exander.html
• The same work from a different source
  http//links.jstor.org/sici?sici0161-24922819892
  12903A393C2653ATVH283E2.0.CO3B2-P
• What if everybody agreed to create fat URLs
  following standardized rules?

6
The OpenURL 0.1 Framework

• OpenURL 0.1 defines a standardized way to
  fatten a URL with metadata describing the work
  that is being sought
• http//www.galileo.usg.edu/sfx_emory?genreartic
  leaulastalexanderaufirstelizabethatitleVen
  us20Hottentottitlecallalooissn0161-2492eis
  sn1080-6512date2001volume24issue3spage68
  8epage691

7
OpenURL 0.1 and 1.0

• OpenURL 0.1 is a de facto standard that is built
  around scholarly bibliographic data
• OpenURL 1.0 is a proposed NISO standard that
  generalizes the OpenURL concept to support open
  linking in various communities
• An OpenURL registry allows communities to
  register different metadata formats
• OCLC is hosting the (read-only) OpenURL registry
  during the trial period

8
OpenURL Link Resolution

• Key concepts developed at University of Ghent and
  Los Alamos National Laboratories (1998-2000), and
  licensed to Ex Libris for their SFX product
• An OpenURL does not point directly to the actual
  item (e.g. a link from a record in an AI
  database to the corresponding full-text)
• OpenURL provides a link that transports metadata
  about the referenced item to a Link Resolver
• The Link Resolver determines what versions of the
  work are available, and may offer other services

9
GETS/GALILEO SFX Project

• After almost two years of evaluation, GALILEO
  recommended SFX early 2003
• Emory, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, and UGA, with
  GALILEO are engaged in a pilot project to
  implement SFX in a consortial setting
• The SFX server is managed by GALILEO staff
• Each participant manages a local instance of SFX,
  including a localized SFX KnowledgeBase and
  configuration files

10
The SFX KnowledgeBase

• The KnowledgeBase includes information about
  approximately 400,000 SFX sources, targets, and
  services
• It also includes rules that determine the
  relevance of specific services in a specific
  context
• Updates to the KnowledgeBase are made available
  monthly, and are applied by GALILEO staff
• Local changes to records in the KnowledgeBase are
  protected from updates

11
SFX Instances

• GALILEO staff manage a central instance of the
  SFX KnowledgeBase for centrally purchased targets
  and sources
• The Emory SFX instance is used to manage all
  other resources
• The appearance and content of the Emory SFX
  services menu is entirely under our control
• The Emory SFX services menu presented to users
  may contain a seamless mix of targets from the
  GALILEO and Emory instances

12
Key SFX Concepts and Terms

• Source An OpenURL-enabled information resource
  in which users begin their search (e.g.,
  Historical Abstracts, MEDLINE)
• Services Facilities offered to the end user,
  based on information the end user is examining
• Menu A list of services relevant at a specific
  context, and displayed by the SFX server
• Target An information source or service where a
  user lands as a result of following an SFX
  Service link

13
SFX Services

• A link resolver can offer a range of services
  based on metadata in the OpenURL
• Full text
• Abstract or Table of Contents
• Document Delivery
• Interlibrary Loan
• Union Catalog Search
• Web Search
• More

14
SFX Services Menu
Alexander, Elizabeth. The Venus Hottentot
(1825)Callaloo - Volume 24, Number 3, Summer
2001
15
Citation Linker
16
OpenURL Generator
17
GETS SFX Project Links

• Citation Linker http//www.galileo.usg.edu/sfx_em
  ory/citation
• OpenURL Generator http//www.galileo.usg.edu/sfx
  _emory
• Georgia Tech eJournals Web Page
• http//www.library.gatech.edu/search_locate/elect
  ronic_journals.html
• SFX GETS/GALILEO Project Web Site
  http//www.usg.edu/galileo/projects/sfx/index.phtm
  l
• More Information google for sfx faq

18
References

• Cummings, J. and R. Johnson (2003). The Use and
  Usability of SFX Context-Sensitive Reference
  Linking. Library Hi-Tech 21(1) 70-84.
• Van de Sompel, H. and O. Beit-Arie (2001). "Open
  Linking in the Scholarly Information Environment
  Using the OpenURL Framework." D-Lib Magazine
  7(3).
• Van de Sompel, H. and O. Beit-Arie (2001).
  "Generalizing the OpenURL Framework beyond
  References to Scholarly Works The Bison-Futé
  Model." D-Lib Magazine 7(7/8).
• Walker, J. (2001). "Open linking for libraries
  the OpenURL framework." New Library World
  102(1163/1164) 127-133.