The Open URL Linking Mechanism for Effective Use of distributed Elecctronoc Resources in Libraries

Abstract

The libraries have adapted themselves to a new challenge of information integration and presentation in order to enhance access to the widely dispersed and distributed electronic information and publications. The open URL standard is a breakthrough for achieving the means to integrate electronic resources of the library. Open URL mechanism transports metadata of electronic resources from one resource to another and provides dynamic links from metadata to full content of the resource described by the metadata. This paper describes the concept underlying the Open URL mechanism, explains the Open URL structure and the link resolvers as the linking component for the resource integration in the libraries.