Shared OpenURL Data Infrastructure Investigation

Title

Duration

1 December 2008 – 30 April 2009

Summary

Many UK universities and colleges maintain OpenURL link servers, which direct users to potential sources of scholarly content. These transactions can be logged and then have the potential to be used in various ways. The MESUR project has shown some of the possibilities that aggregations of such data might offer.

The aim of this short project is to scope a UK architecture for the analysis of OpenURL linking data, with the architecture intended to provide a basis for ongoing services.

The project will:

Conduct desk research and consult domain experts to identify the main challenges and opportunities with respect to sharing and using OpenURL link server data, including an assessment of the legal framework within which such sharing and use would take place.
Consider potential uses of UK level OpenURL linking data and validate these with the academic community sector
Consider using the OpenURL Router as a data source
Consider using OpenURL linking data provided by UK institutions
Compare and contrast these OpenURL linking data sources

Download and read the Project Plan (PDF file, 120Kb)

Project Deliverables

The major deliverable of this scoping will be a report that outlines the findings of the project. It will also draw out the practical recommendations that can be made in order to contribute and use OpenURL linking data, including next steps and those targeted at particular organisations.

Final Project Report (pdf to download: 467Kb)

EDINA Contact

Project Team:

Christine Rees
Tim Stickland
Des Reid
Leah Halliday

(Contact details at the EDINA staff page.)

Funders

JISC