SFX Link Resolver

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SFX- Link Resolver

• Niall McSweeney
• Monica Crump
• James Hardiman LibraryNUI, Galway

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Background to SFX

• ALEPH Library
• Ex Libris product
• Appointment of E-Resources Co-ordinator - Rónán
  Kennedy
• Training February 2004
• Installation, vendors, sources, targets,
  knowledge base etc.
• SFX/Metalib Advisory Committee
• Quietly live September 2004
• Upgrade early 2005

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What is SFX?

• SFX is a context sensitive link server from
  ExLibris that allows context-sensitive linking
  between Web resources in the scholarly linking
  environment (sfxit.com)
• From a database citation, it can link directly to
  the full text of an e-journal article or to the
  catalogue record of print journals

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• Uses OpenURL linking
• - the syntax for moving bibliographic data
  between information providers.
• - no longer need solid links

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Old Linking
http//publish.stuff.org/abstract/PRA/v63/p062103
(courtesy of Ex Libris)
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New Linking
http//sfx.nuigalway.ie/menu?genrearticleissn12
34-5678 volume12issue3spage1epage8date19
98 aulastMurphyaufirstPaddy
(courtesy of ExLibris)
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How does it work?

• Sources
• A source is where a user would be starting
  their search eg a reference or a citation
• Targets
• Targets are items to which the user wishes
  to link

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Implications

• For The Library
• Standardisation
• Gives us more say, in terms of linking options
• Statistics
• Increases usage more value for money

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Implications

• For The Library User
• Linking is easier quicker
• Opens doors to new resources
• Intuitive push the button
• Relevant options only
• Allows linking to IReL acquisitions
  without knowledge of them

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A Quick Sample Look
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A Quick Sample Look
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A more thorough example
SFX Source
SFX Menu
SFX Target
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Changes SFX Will Bring

• No more dead links
• - Error 404 means resource was moved
• - Because SFX is a dynamic linking
  environment, links are created in real time when
  requested by a user
• Extra Services
• - if full-text is not available electronically
  the user can seamlessly check the catalogue for a
  paper copy or ILL
• E-Journals
• - SFX can create a customizable alphabetical
  journal title list for the website

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Other Possible Changes

• Makes searching much easier helps user
  empowerment
• Change our approach to the structure of
  E-Resources standardisation
• Website changes

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SFX Impact on subscription management
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SFX Benefits

• Increased discoverability of all full-text
  subscriptions (targets)
• Greater user satisfaction with A/I resources
  (sources)
• Increased usage
• Maximise value for money

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Impact on Subscription Decisions

• Mass cancellation of non-OpenURL compliant
  resources?
• Importance of OpenURL in new subscription
  decisions
• Platform selection proprietary search
  interfaces no longer so significant

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SFX A panacea for our e-sub management woes?

• Knowledge base dynamic, all-knowing, easy to
  use?
• No longer a role for cataloguing?
• Duplication of
• Record creation
• Maintenance/alteration
• Laborious and error-prone procedures

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MARCit!

• SFX has a new baby brother called MARCit!
• SFX exports full list of journal titles
• MARCit! produces full MARC record
• Aleph imports the file produced by MARCit!
• The result MARC records in the OPAC for all our
  e-resources
• Source of records CONSER, excellent quality.

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IReL

• How to provide access quickly to thousands of
  full text titles?
• Individual catalogue records manually created?
• SFX has allowed us to immediately make IReL
  titles discoverable
• MARCit! may enable us to provide direct title
  access via the catalogue quickly