OpenURL:
a new standard for content integration

March 2002

The genesis of this article was a member question about a new service called SFX, a company that offers what it calls "Context Sensitive Reference Linking." SFX, it turns out, is one of several start-up companies that offers software for implementing an emerging standard called the OpenURL -- a kind of "super" URL that makes it easier for intranet users to explore references in scholarly journals and access the full range of information services available to them. The standard -- like so many other innovations originating from the world of academic publishing -- could have a significant impact on corporate portals and content management systems. In this article we describe the OpenURL, explain how it works, and discuss its implications for publishers, librarians, IT departments, authors, and readers.

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Created on April 5, 2002 I Updated on May 28, 2004