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Wikipedia

OpenURL

November 24, 2023

An OpenURL is similar to a web address, but instead of referring to a physical website, it refers to an article, book, patent, or other resource within a website.

OpenURLs are similar to permalinks because they are permanently connected to a resource, regardless of which website the resource is connected to.

Libraries and other resource centers are the most common place to find OpenURLs because an OpenURL can help Internet users find a copy of a resource that they may otherwise have limited access to.

The source that generates an OpenURL is often a bibliographic citation or bibliographic record in a database. Examples of these databases include Ovid Technologies, Web of Science, Chemical Abstracts Service, Modern Language Association and Google Scholar.

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) has developed standards for OpenURL and its data container as American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard ANSI/NISO Z39.88-2004. OpenURL standards create a clear structure for links that go from information resource databases (sources) to library services (targets).

A target is a resource or service that helps satisfy a user's information needs. Examples of targets include full-text repositories, online journals, online library catalogs and other Web resources and services. OpenURL knowledge bases provide links to the appropriate targets available.

History edit

OpenURL was created by Herbert Van de Sompel, a librarian at the University of Ghent, in the late 1990s. His link-server software, SFX, was purchased by the library automation company Ex Libris Group which popularized OpenURL in the information industry.[1]

In 2005, a revised version of OpenURL (version 1.0) became ANSI/NISO standard Z39.88-2004, with Van de Sompel's version designated as version 0.1. The new standard provided a framework for describing new formats, as well as defining XML versions of the various formats.[2]

In 2006 a research report found some problems affecting the efficiency of OpenURL linking and recommended the creation of a group to establish best practice solutions. The KBART (Knowledge Bases And Related Tools) working group has been set up to progress the recommendations of the research report.[3] OpenURL standards and reporting work continues with NISO's IOTA (Improving OpenURLs Through Analytics) project, which produced a reporting tool and research summary in 2013 noting the benefits of data analysis to improve link resolution.[4]

In June 2006, NISO designated the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) as the "maintenance and registration agency" (or "registry agent") of the OpenURL standard, for an initial term of five years.[5][6] In 2011, OCLC researchers highlighted their work in a NISO journal article, noting that "the OpenURL standard is one of the most heavily used NISO standards".[7] As registry agent, OCLC was responsible for reviewing proposed extensions to the standard and maintaining a listing of those it approved.[7] Per the standard, registry entries could specify particular metadata fields and their representation.[8]: 15  The registry had the canonical URL http://www.openurl.info/registry.[8]: 15 

In 2022, OCLC updated its OpenURL Registry webpage to state that the registry is no longer supported or maintained, saying it had been an "experimental research project" and "research prototype application".[9] The standard registry URL now redirects to an archived version of the site, described as "the Frozen (deprecated) version of the Registry for the OpenURL Framework".[10]

Standards edit

  • NISO OpenURL version 0.1 (2000-05-16)
  • NISO OpenURL version 1.0f (2003-03-18)[11]
  • ANSI/NISO Z39.88-2004
  • ANSI/NISO Z39.88-2004 [R2010][8]

Use edit

The most common application of OpenURL is to assist in the resolution of a request for a web resource (such as an online article). An OpenURL includes information about the referenced resource itself, and context information — both the context in which the OpenURL occurs (for example, a page of search results from a library catalog) and the context of the request (for example, the particular user making the request). If a different context is expressed in the URL, a different copy ends up resolved to. Changes in context are predictable, and do not require the original creator of the hyperlink (for example, the journal publisher) to handcraft different URLs for different contexts.

For example, changing either the base URL or a parameter in the query string can mean that the OpenURL resolves to a copy of a resource in a different library. So the same OpenURL, contained for instance in an electronic journal, can be adjusted by any library to provide access to their own copy of the resource, without completely overwriting the journal's hyperlink. The journal provider, in turn, is no longer required to provide a different version of the journal, with different hyperlinks, for each subscribing library (See also COinS).

Format edit

An OpenURL consists of a base URL, which contains the address of the user's institutional link-server, followed by a query string, consisting of key-value pairs serializing a ContextObject. The ContextObject is most often bibliographic data, but as of version 1.0 OpenURL can also include information about the requester, the resource containing the hyperlink, the type of service required, and so forth. For example:

http://resolver.example.edu/cgi?genre=book&isbn=0836218310&title=The+Far+Side+Gallery+3

is a version 0.1 OpenURL describing a book.[11]http://resolver.example.edu/cgi is the base URL of an example link-server.

In version 1.0, this same link becomes somewhat longer:

http://resolver.example.edu/cgi?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:book&rft.isbn=0836218310&rft.btitle=The+Far+Side+Gallery+3

The above query string consists of the following key-value pairs:

  • ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004 – specifying the ContextObject version
  • rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:book – specifying the metadata format for the referent (in this case, a book)
  • Fields from this format describing the referent object:
    • rft.isbn=0836218310 – the ISBN identifying the book
    • rft.btitle=The+Far+Side+Gallery+3 – the title of the book

Keys always consist of safe characters and are not encoded, but values are URL-encoded.

Applications and tools edit

Several companies market link server systems. Some proprietary options include OCLC (as part of WorldCat Local), Ex Libris (SFX and Alma UResolver), Serials Solutions (360 Link 2009-06-01 at the Wayback Machine, formerly known as Article Linker), Innovative Interfaces, Inc. (WebBridge), EBSCO Information Services (Full Text Finder), Ovid (LinkSolver), SirsiDynix (Resolver), Fretwell-Downing (OL2), TDNet, Inc. (TOUResolver), WT Cox Information Services (Journal Finder), R. R. Bowker (Ulrichs Resource Linker) and Infor (Vlink).

Open-source link resolvers include and Umlaut. There are also open-source tools for manipulating OpenURLs and the Code4Lib community maintains a list of these.

OpenURL is usually implemented by information providers by dynamically inserting an appropriate base URL into web pages sent to an authenticated user. OpenURL COinS is a specification that allows free services like Wikipedia to provide OpenURLs by cooperating with client side software agents. Federated search software presents OpenURL links in record fields by employing the library's subscriber links to link servers facilitating access to full-text resources from bibliographic record hyperlinks.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ McDonald, John; Van de Velde, Eric F. (April 2004). "The lure of linking". Library Journal. 129 (6): 32–34.
  2. ^ Apps, Ann; MacIntyre, Ross (May 2006). "Why OpenURL?". D-Lib Magazine. 12 (5). doi:10.1045/may2006-apps.
  3. ^ "Knowledge Bases And Related Tools (KBART)". www.niso.org. NISO.
  4. ^ "NISO IOTA Improving OpenURLs Through Analytics". openurlquality.org.
  5. ^ Stevens, Pat (July–August 2006). "OCLC Designated Maintenance Agency for OpenURL Standard". D-Lib Magazine. 12 (7/8). doi:10.1045/july2006-inbrief. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  6. ^ "OCLC Designated Maintenance Agency for OpenURL Standard" (Press release). Bethesda, Maryland: NISO. 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  7. ^ a b Norman, Phil; Young, Jeff (January 2011). "Standard Spotlight: The OpenURL Maintenance Agency: Extending and Promoting the Use of OpenURL". Information Standards Quarterly. NISO. 23 (1): 26–28. doi:10.3789/isqv23n1.2011.07. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  8. ^ a b c ANSI/NISO Z39.88-2004 (R2010) – The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: National Information Standards Organization. 2010-05-13 [2005-04-15]. ISBN 978-1-937522-38-4. ISSN 1041-5653. (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2020-09-23. (122 pages)
  9. ^ . OCLC Research. 2022-06-08. Archived from the original on 2022-06-11.
  10. ^ Young, Jeff (2021-08-31). "OpenURL-Frozen". OCLC Research. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  11. ^ a b Van de Sompel, Herbert; Hochstenbach, Patrick; Beit-Arie, Oren (2003-03-18). "OpenURL Syntax Description, version OpenURL/1.0f - 2000-05-16 (OpenURL 0.1 Standard)" (PDF). OpenURL/1.0f - 2000-05-16. (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2020-09-23. [1] (9+1 pages)

Further reading edit

  • Van de Sompel, Herbert; Beit-Arie, Oren (March 2001). "Open Linking in the Scholarly Information Environment Using the OpenURL Framework". D-Lib Magazine. 7 (3). doi:10.1045/march2001-vandesompel.
  • . stable version 1.0. Archived from the original on 2014-09-13.
  • Trainor, Cindi; Price, Jason (October 2010). "Rethinking Library Linking: Breathing New Life Into OpenURL". Library Technology Reports (LTR) - Expert Guides to Library Systems and Services. ALA TechSource. Vol. 46, no. 7 (1st illustrated ed.). American Library Association. ISBN 978-0-83895813-1. ISSN 0024-2586. ISBN 0-83895813-3. (38 pages)

External links edit

  • Registry for the OpenURL Framework – ANSI/NISO Z39.88-2004
  • - archives of OPENURL@OCLC.ORG mailing list
  • Umlaut

November 24, 2023
openurl, this, article, technical, most, readers, understand, please, help, improve, make, understandable, experts, without, removing, technical, details, august, 2008, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, similar, address, instead, referring, physica. This article may be too technical for most readers to understand Please help improve it to make it understandable to non experts without removing the technical details August 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message An OpenURL is similar to a web address but instead of referring to a physical website it refers to an article book patent or other resource within a website OpenURLs are similar to permalinks because they are permanently connected to a resource regardless of which website the resource is connected to Libraries and other resource centers are the most common place to find OpenURLs because an OpenURL can help Internet users find a copy of a resource that they may otherwise have limited access to The source that generates an OpenURL is often a bibliographic citation or bibliographic record in a database Examples of these databases include Ovid Technologies Web of Science Chemical Abstracts Service Modern Language Association and Google Scholar The National Information Standards Organization NISO has developed standards for OpenURL and its data container as American National Standards Institute ANSI standard ANSI NISO Z39 88 2004 OpenURL standards create a clear structure for links that go from information resource databases sources to library services targets A target is a resource or service that helps satisfy a user s information needs Examples of targets include full text repositories online journals online library catalogs and other Web resources and services OpenURL knowledge bases provide links to the appropriate targets available Contents 1 History 1 1 Standards 2 Use 3 Format 4 Applications and tools 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksHistory editOpenURL was created by Herbert Van de Sompel a librarian at the University of Ghent in the late 1990s His link server software SFX was purchased by the library automation company Ex Libris Group which popularized OpenURL in the information industry 1 In 2005 a revised version of OpenURL version 1 0 became ANSI NISO standard Z39 88 2004 with Van de Sompel s version designated as version 0 1 The new standard provided a framework for describing new formats as well as defining XML versions of the various formats 2 In 2006 a research report found some problems affecting the efficiency of OpenURL linking and recommended the creation of a group to establish best practice solutions The KBART Knowledge Bases And Related Tools working group has been set up to progress the recommendations of the research report 3 OpenURL standards and reporting work continues with NISO s IOTA Improving OpenURLs Through Analytics project which produced a reporting tool and research summary in 2013 noting the benefits of data analysis to improve link resolution 4 In June 2006 NISO designated the Online Computer Library Center OCLC as the maintenance and registration agency or registry agent of the OpenURL standard for an initial term of five years 5 6 In 2011 OCLC researchers highlighted their work in a NISO journal article noting that the OpenURL standard is one of the most heavily used NISO standards 7 As registry agent OCLC was responsible for reviewing proposed extensions to the standard and maintaining a listing of those it approved 7 Per the standard registry entries could specify particular metadata fields and their representation 8 15 The registry had the canonical URL a rel nofollow class external free href http www openurl info registry http www openurl info registry a 8 15 In 2022 OCLC updated its OpenURL Registry webpage to state that the registry is no longer supported or maintained saying it had been an experimental research project and research prototype application 9 The standard registry URL now redirects to an archived version of the site described as the Frozen deprecated version of the Registry for the OpenURL Framework 10 Standards edit NISO OpenURL version 0 1 2000 05 16 NISO OpenURL version 1 0f 2003 03 18 11 ANSI NISO Z39 88 2004 ANSI NISO Z39 88 2004 R2010 8 Use editThe most common application of OpenURL is to assist in the resolution of a request for a web resource such as an online article An OpenURL includes information about the referenced resource itself and context information both the context in which the OpenURL occurs for example a page of search results from a library catalog and the context of the request for example the particular user making the request If a different context is expressed in the URL a different copy ends up resolved to Changes in context are predictable and do not require the original creator of the hyperlink for example the journal publisher to handcraft different URLs for different contexts For example changing either the base URL or a parameter in the query string can mean that the OpenURL resolves to a copy of a resource in a different library So the same OpenURL contained for instance in an electronic journal can be adjusted by any library to provide access to their own copy of the resource without completely overwriting the journal s hyperlink The journal provider in turn is no longer required to provide a different version of the journal with different hyperlinks for each subscribing library See also COinS Format editAn OpenURL consists of a base URL which contains the address of the user s institutional link server followed by a query string consisting of key value pairs serializing a ContextObject The ContextObject is most often bibliographic data but as of version 1 0 OpenURL can also include information about the requester the resource containing the hyperlink the type of service required and so forth For example http resolver example edu cgi genre book amp isbn 0836218310 amp title The Far Side Gallery 3is a version 0 1 OpenURL describing a book 11 http resolver example edu cgi is the base URL of an example link server In version 1 0 this same link becomes somewhat longer http resolver example edu cgi ctx ver Z39 88 2004 amp rft val fmt info ofi fmt kev mtx book amp rft isbn 0836218310 amp rft btitle The Far Side Gallery 3The above query string consists of the following key value pairs ctx ver Z39 88 2004 specifying the ContextObject version rft val fmt info ofi fmt kev mtx book specifying the metadata format for the referent in this case a book Fields from this format describing the referent object rft isbn 0836218310 the ISBN identifying the book rft btitle The Far Side Gallery 3 the title of the bookKeys always consist of safe characters and are not encoded but values are URL encoded Applications and tools editSeveral companies market link server systems Some proprietary options include OCLC as part of WorldCat Local Ex Libris SFX and Alma UResolver Serials Solutions 360 Link Archived 2009 06 01 at the Wayback Machine formerly known as Article Linker Innovative Interfaces Inc WebBridge EBSCO Information Services Full Text Finder Ovid LinkSolver SirsiDynix Resolver Fretwell Downing OL2 TDNet Inc TOUResolver WT Cox Information Services Journal Finder R R Bowker Ulrichs Resource Linker and Infor Vlink Open source link resolvers include CUFTS and Umlaut There are also open source tools for manipulating OpenURLs and the Code4Lib community maintains a list of these OpenURL is usually implemented by information providers by dynamically inserting an appropriate base URL into web pages sent to an authenticated user OpenURL COinS is a specification that allows free services like Wikipedia to provide OpenURLs by cooperating with client side software agents Federated search software presents OpenURL links in record fields by employing the library s subscriber links to link servers facilitating access to full text resources from bibliographic record hyperlinks See also editOpenSearch Uniform Resource Name UKSGReferences edit McDonald John Van de Velde Eric F April 2004 The lure of linking Library Journal 129 6 32 34 Apps Ann MacIntyre Ross May 2006 Why OpenURL D Lib Magazine 12 5 doi 10 1045 may2006 apps Knowledge Bases And Related Tools KBART www niso org NISO NISO IOTA Improving OpenURLs Through Analytics openurlquality org Stevens Pat July August 2006 OCLC Designated Maintenance Agency for OpenURL Standard D Lib Magazine 12 7 8 doi 10 1045 july2006 inbrief Retrieved 2022 11 21 OCLC Designated Maintenance Agency for OpenURL Standard Press release Bethesda Maryland NISO 2006 06 22 Retrieved 2022 11 21 a b Norman Phil Young Jeff January 2011 Standard Spotlight The OpenURL Maintenance Agency Extending and Promoting the Use of OpenURL Information Standards Quarterly NISO 23 1 26 28 doi 10 3789 isqv23n1 2011 07 Retrieved 2022 11 21 a b c ANSI NISO Z39 88 2004 R2010 The OpenURL Framework for Context Sensitive Services Baltimore Maryland USA National Information Standards Organization 2010 05 13 2005 04 15 ISBN 978 1 937522 38 4 ISSN 1041 5653 Archived PDF from the original on 2020 09 23 Retrieved 2020 09 23 122 pages OpenURL Registry OCLC Research 2022 06 08 Archived from the original on 2022 06 11 Young Jeff 2021 08 31 OpenURL Frozen OCLC Research Retrieved 2022 11 21 a b Van de Sompel Herbert Hochstenbach Patrick Beit Arie Oren 2003 03 18 OpenURL Syntax Description version OpenURL 1 0f 2000 05 16 OpenURL 0 1 Standard PDF OpenURL 1 0f 2000 05 16 Archived PDF from the original on 2020 09 23 Retrieved 2020 09 23 1 9 1 pages Further reading editVan de Sompel Herbert Beit Arie Oren March 2001 Open Linking in the Scholarly Information Environment Using the OpenURL Framework D Lib Magazine 7 3 doi 10 1045 march2001 vandesompel OpenURL COinS A Convention to Embed Bibliographic Metadata in HTML stable version 1 0 Archived from the original on 2014 09 13 Trainor Cindi Price Jason October 2010 Rethinking Library Linking Breathing New Life Into OpenURL Library Technology Reports LTR Expert Guides to Library Systems and Services ALA TechSource Vol 46 no 7 1st illustrated ed American Library Association ISBN 978 0 83895813 1 ISSN 0024 2586 ISBN 0 83895813 3 38 pages External links editRegistry for the OpenURL Framework ANSI NISO Z39 88 2004 OpenURL standardization committee archives of OPENURL OCLC ORG mailing list Umlaut Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title OpenURL amp oldid 1171565869, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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