[Forwarding from the FOS list - Ross]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
Pat Harris
NISO
(301) 654-2512
Email: [log in to unmask]
OpenURL Standard Trial Implementation Launched
Bethesda, Md., USA (June 18, 2003) - The National Information Standards
Organization (NISO) has released The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive
Services standard (version 1.0) for a trial use period ending November 1,
2003. The OpenURL standard allows a user who has retrieved an information
resource citation to obtain immediate access to the most "appropriate" copy
of the full resource through the implementation of extended linking
services. The selection of the best source for the full resource is based on
the user's and the organization's preferences related to location, cost,
contractual or license agreements in place with information suppliers,
etc.-all done transparently to the user. The transparency is accomplished by
storing context sensitive metadata with the "OpenURL" link from the source
citation, and linking it to a "resolver" server where the preference
information and links to the source material are stored.
The initial development of OpenURL was targeted at the electronic delivery
of scholarly journal articles. In version 1.0 of the Standard the framework
is generalized to enable communities beyond the original audience of
scholarly information users to adopt extended linking services and to lower
the entry barrier for new implementers.
An impressive international group of trial users including data providers
constructing OpenURL metadata, providers of OpenURL resolvers, and libraries
providing end user services using OpenURL resolution are testing the
standard. The goal of the trial period is to test the standard's framework
using a variety of data sources and resolver services to ensure that users
can seamlessly receive and process OpenURLs and to solicit feedback on the
proposed standard.
Participating in the trial as data providers are:
CABI Publishing (U.K.)
Edinburgh University Data Library (U.K.)
Informatics India Ltd (India)
Grupo Stela (Brazil).
MIMAS, University of Manchester (U.K.)
MuseGlobal, Inc. (U.S.)
ProQuest Information and Learning (U.S.)
RLG-Eureka (U.S.)
Participating resolver services include:
ArXiv.org (U.S.)
Auto-Graphics, Inc. (U.S.)
Edinburgh University Data Library (U.K.)
Endeavor Information Systems (U.S.), Ex Libris USA, Inc. (U.S.)
Innovative Interfaces, Inc. (U.S.)
OhioLINK (U.S.)
Potiron Tecnologia para Bibliotecas (Brazil),
ProQuest Information and Learning (U.S.)
Sirsi Corporation (U.S.)
MuseGlobal, Inc. (U.S.)
Openly Informatics (U.S.)
RLG-Eureka (U.S.)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium).
Libraries providing end-user access include: Université Libre de Bruxelles
Libraries (Belgium), RLG-Eureka (U.S.), and The Getty Research Institute
Library (U.S.).
The Standard has been issued in two parts and is available as a free
download at <http://library.caltech.edu/openurl/Public_Comments.htm>. The
activities of the OpenURL standards committee and its trial implementers can
be followed on the committee's website at
<http:// <http://%20library.caltech.edu/openurl/default.htm>
library.caltech.edu/openurl/default.htm> or by subscribing to the
committee's listserv by sending an email message to [log in to unmask]
with "subscribe openurl" (without quotation marks) in the body of the
message.
The trial use period is being coordinated and managed by the California
Digital Library. To sign-on as a trial implementor contact Karen Coyle
(email: [log in to unmask]).
# # #
About NISO:
NISO develops technical standards that enable libraries, publishers, content
providers and their business partners to maximize the value of their
content. All NISO standards are available to the public without charge from
the NISO website. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute,
NISO is a nonprofit organization supported by over seventy members
representing the leadership in the global information community. NISO
Standards, information about NISO's activities, and membership information
are featured on the NISO website http://www.niso.org/ or call 301-654-2512.
National Information Standards Organization * 4733 Bethesda Ave. * Bethesda,
MD 20814
# # #
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National Information Standards Organization (NISO)
4733 Bethesda Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814-5248
Tel: 301-654-2512 Fax: 301-654-1721
[log in to unmask] www.niso.org <http://www.niso.org/>
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Ross MacIntyre T: +44(0)161-275-7181
Senior Project Manager F: +44(0)161-275-6071
Manchester Computing M: +44(0)778-095-6424
University of Manchester E: [log in to unmask]
Oxford Road http://www.mimas.ac.uk/
<http://www.mcc.ac.uk/>
Manchester M13 9PL U.K.
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