SFX - Link Resolver Niall McSweeney Monica Crump James Hardiman Library NUI, Galway

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

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) “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 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

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

Old Linking (courtesy of Ex Libris)

New Linking &volume=12&issue=3&spage=1&epage=8&date=1998 &aulast=Murphy&aufirst=Paddy (courtesy of ExLibris)

How does it work? Sources: Sources: A source is where a user would be starting their search eg a reference or a citation A source is where a user would be starting their search eg a reference or a citation Targets: Targets: Targets are items to which the user wishes to link Targets are items to which the user wishes to link

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

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

A Quick Sample Look…

A more thorough example SFX SourceSFX MenuSFX Target

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

Other Possible Changes Makes searching much easier – helps ‘user empowerment’ Makes searching much easier – helps ‘user empowerment’ Change our approach to the structure of E- Resources – standardisation Change our approach to the structure of E- Resources – standardisation Website changes Website changes

SFX: Impact on subscription management

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

Impact on Subscription Decisions Mass cancellation of non-OpenURL compliant resources? Mass cancellation of non-OpenURL compliant resources? Importance of OpenURL in new subscription decisions Importance of OpenURL in new subscription decisions Platform selection – proprietary search interfaces no longer so significant Platform selection – proprietary search interfaces no longer so significant

SFX: A panacea for our e-sub management woes? Knowledge base – dynamic, all-knowing, easy to use? Knowledge base – dynamic, all-knowing, easy to use? No longer a role for cataloguing? No longer a role for cataloguing? Duplication of: Duplication of: Record creationRecord creation Maintenance/alterationMaintenance/alteration Laborious and error-prone procedures Laborious and error-prone procedures

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

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