Link Resolver Research Articles

Impact of web-scale discovery on reference inquiry

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine shifts in the volume and complexity of reference questions received at a small liberal arts college following the implementation of a Web-scale discovery service. Design/methodology/approach Researchers used the Warner model of reference classification to review and classify reference questions from the academic year prior to the implementation of EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) and the academic year following EDS implementation to evaluate the change in volume of questions and complexity. Findings Research findings are significant as they document a 34 per cent decline in overall volume of reference activity following the integration of a Web-scale discovery service into the research process. Notably, the question category rated as the highest level of reference complexity (level IV) registered an 18.5 per cent increase in volume, post-EDS implementation. Question levels I-III all saw declines in volume ranging from 45 to 14 per cent. Research limitations/implications Limitations of the study relate to multiple librarians having recorded questions as they were received by reference services and, as a result, some variation in transaction description should be expected. The concurrent deployment of a Web-scale discovery service and an integrated link resolver made delineation of the respective impact of each tool difficult. Practical implications Libraries contemplating the integration of a Web-scale discovery service into the research process will be able to use the research analysis to contemplate service redesign in advance of discovery implementation. The research results support additional training of reference personnel to service higher levels of in-depth inquiries. A redesign of reference services incorporating a tiered reference model using proactive chat with referrals to library faculty for in-depth research consultations is recommended. Originality/value After a literature review of relevant research, the researchers discovered few similar studies. As a result, this analysis will be of significant value to the library profession.

Managing Discovery and Linking Services

There is a growing trend toward a consolidation of services for electronic resources management, A–Z journal listings, full text link resolving, and discovery services under a single service provider. In many cases, the adoption of a discovery service from a provider that is not the same as the libraries’ existing link resolver service means managing multiple knowledgebases. In this session, three librarians gave an overview of their experiences and strategies for maintaining separate link resolving and discovery services in lieu of adopting a full suite of services from a single service provider. Each speaker presented a case study on the advantages and challenges of managing their chosen discovery service: EBSCO Discovery Service, Ex Libris’ Primo and ProQuest’s Summon, in conjunction with the CUFTS/GODOT open source knowledgebase and link resolver service.

Troubleshooting Electronic Resources with ILL Data

Troubleshooting electronic resource linking issues can seem to be an insurmountable task—so many resources, so little time. Using interlibrary loan (ILL) data on requests for materials available online, the electronic resources staff at the Samford University Library detected problems with the implementation of their new link resolver. This data also provided a window into some systemic issues within the metadata of certain sources and the link resolver knowledgebase. In addition to helping us improve linking for our users, the establishment of a workflow for communicating cancelled ILL transaction data on an ongoing basis has also improved the communication between electronic resources staff and the ILL department regarding the overall linking process.

Faculty Decisions on Serials Subscriptions Differ Significantly from Decisions Predicted by a Bibliometric Tool

A Review of:
 Knowlton, S. A., Sales, A. C., & Merriman, K. W. (2014). A comparison of faculty and bibliometric valuation of serials subscriptions at an academic research library. Serials Review, 40(1), 28-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00987913.2014.897174 
 
 Abstract
 
 Objective – To compare faculty choices of serials subscription cancellations to the scores of a bibliometric tool.
 
 Design – Natural experiment. Data was collected about faculty valuations of serials. The California Digital Library Weighted Value Algorithm (CDL-WVA) was used to measure the value of journals to a particular library. These two sets of scores were then compared. 
 
 Setting – A public research university in the United States of America.
 
 Subjects – Teaching and research faculty, as well as serials data.
 
 Methods – Experimental methodology was used to compare faculty valuations of serials (based on their journal cancellation choices) to bibliometric valuations of the same journal titles (determined by CDL-WVA scores) to identify the match rate between the faculty choices and the bibliographic data. Faculty were asked to select titles to cancel that totaled approximately 30% of the budget for their disciplinary fund code. This “keep” or “cancel” choice was the binary variable for the study. Usage data was gathered for articles downloaded through the link resolver for titles in each disciplinary dataset, and the CDL-WVA scores were determined for each journal title based on utility, quality, and cost effectiveness. 
 
 Titles within each dataset were ranked highest to lowest using the CDL-WVA scores within each fund code, and then by subscription cost for titles with the same CDL-WVA score. The journal titles selected for comparison were those that ranked above the approximate 30% of titles chosen for cancellation by faculty and CDL-WVA scores.
 
 Researchers estimated an odds ratio of faculty choosing to keep a title and a CDL-WVA score that indicated the title should be kept. The p-value for that result was less than 0.0001, indicating that there was a negligible probability that the results were by chance. They also applied logistic regression to quantify the association between the numeric score of CDL-WVA and the binary variable of the faculty choices. The p-value for this relationship was less than 0.0001, also indicating that the result was not by chance. A quadratic model plotted alongside the previous linear model follows a similar pattern. The p-value of the comparison is 0.0002, which indicates the quadratic model’s fit cannot be explained by random chance. 
 
 Main Results – The authors point out three outstanding findings. First, the match rate between faculty valuations and bibliometric scores for serials is 65%. This exceeds the 50% rate that would indicate random association, but also indicates a statistically significant difference between faculty and bibliometric valuations. Secondly, the match rate with the bibliometric scores for titles that faculty chose to keep (73%) was higher than those they chose to cancel (54%). Thirdly, the match rate increased with higher bibliometric scores.
 
 Conclusions – Though the authors identify only a modest degree of similarity between faculty and bibliometric valuations of serials, it is noted that there is more agreement in the higher valued serials than the lower valued serials. With that in mind, librarians might focus faculty review on the lower scoring titles in the future, taking into consideration that unique faculty interests may drive selection at that level and would need to be balanced with the mission of the library.

Enabling Technologies of Access to E-resources: An Overview

This article is an attempt to explain and summarize the technical functionalities involved in access to e-resources. E-resources such as e-books, e-journals and databases have become preferred choice of users due to their characteristic features. It has become important to understand their structural functionalities in order to exploit them to the fullest. E-resources are required to be embedded with linking tools such as Cross Ref; DOI, DOI-X, Open URL and Link Resolver for maximum outreach and usability. The scholarly content are further disseminated through range of access technology such as Generic password, IP Access, Proxy Server, Virtual Private Network, Athens and Shibboleth Authentication to make them more accessible any time anywhere. Cloud computing based IT infrastructure is yet another promising proposition for libraries delivering services at cost effective operational models with reduced complexity. These components of ICT prove to be crucial tool in providing wider access to e-resources. Appropriate deployment of technical resources can make the move of libraries towards electronic collection sustainable.

Accessing the NIH Portfolio through a Link Resolver: Challenges and Outcomes

Link resolvers are powerful tools through which libraries can provide access to myriad resources to users at the point of research. The NIH Portfolio is a valuable resource where articles from journals are regularly deposited in PMC in compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy, but is not particularly friendly for use in a link resolver. What happens when you try to merge the two? This article describes the challenges, implementation, and analysis of the experience at the LSU Health New Orleans Library when journals available through the NIH Portfolio were added to our link resolver.

The Discovery–Collection Librarian Connection: Cultivating Collaboration for Better Discovery

Discovery layers and remote access are the standard way to access and find academic library resources, making metadata, link resolvers, and indexing important considerations at the time of selection and throughout the lifespan of an electronic resource. Collection development librarians must be aware of how resources will function with and appear in the library's discovery layer. This awareness is an opportunity for collection development and discovery librarians to share their knowledge and collaborate to provide the best discovery for the library's resources. This case study examines ways the Electronic Access and Discovery unit at Auraria Library has fostered that relationship.

SFX Miscellaneous Free Ejournals Target: Usage Survey Among the SFX Community

The number of free or open access articles is increasing rapidly, and their retrieval with library indexes and OpenURL link resolvers has been a challenge. In June 2014, the SFX MISCELLANEOUS_FREE_EJOURNALS target contained more than 24,000 portfolios of all kinds. The SFX KnowledgeBase Advisory Board (KBAB) carried out an international survey to get an overview of the usage of this target by the SFX community and to precisely identify what could be done to improve it. The target is widely used among the community. However, many respondents complained about three major problems: (a) incorrect links, (b) full texts actually not free, and (c) incorrect or missing thresholds (years and volumes information).

Spilling Out of the Funnel: How Reliance Upon Interlibrary Loan Affects Access to Information

Academic libraries that cancel serials titles typically offer interlibrary loan (ILL) as an alternative means to access these titles.This study examines how serials cancellations affect ILL usage and how reliance on ILL affects patrons’ access to content. By analyzing the number of ILL requests from canceled titles, the authors found that cancellations have a very small effect upon overall ILL usage. With the help of Google Analytics, the authors counted patron requests for link resolver access that were converted to ILL requests. When the link resolver was unable to generate a link to full text, it displayed a message to that effect on a link resolver landing page and presented the patron with a choice to request the title through ILL. Google Analytics recorded traffic to and from the link resolver landing page and generated a data set for this study. Analysis of collected data, including ILLiad records, shows that after patrons identify desired articles that require ILL, they only submit ILL requests 31 percent of the time. This means that for every successful ILL request, there are at least two articles desired that are never requested. Implications for collection development are discussed.

Identifying and Troubleshooting Link-Resolution Issues with ILL Data

Troubleshooting when a link resolver goes wrong can be difficult as it usually relies on the user to report the problem. Using data on interlibrary loan requests that have been cancelled because the materials are available online is one way that libraries can examine where link resolvers may be failing. For the 2012/2013 school year, the Samford University Library looked at this cancelled interlibrary loan request data to determine where their new link resolver and knowledgebase needed further customization to improve the user experience. This process not only identified a number of problems all along the link resolution chain, but it also put in place an ongoing process for identifying and troubleshooting link resolution issues in the future.

Deciding to Change OpenURL Link Resolvers

This article will be of interest to librarians, particularly those in consortia that are evaluating OpenURL link resolvers. This case study contrasts WebBridge (an Innovative Interface product) and LinkSource (EBSCO's product). This study assisted us in the decision-making process of choosing an OpenURL link resolver that was sustainable to maintain and, most importantly, made it easier for users to access the full text of an article. This case study does not propose that one product is superior to another; however, the criteria and methods used to evaluate the products will be of use to those seeking to improve user access.

Improvement of library operations by log analysis of the link resolver(<Special feature>Information service improvement based on Data Analysis)

Improvement of library operations by log analysis of the link resolver(<Special feature>Information service improvement based on Data Analysis)

The KBART’s Potential beyond OpenURL Linking

Knowledge Base and Related Tools (KBART), initially founded with a focus on improving OpenURL linking through the definition of best practices for exchanging title-level metadata, continues to gain traction and has the potential to be an initiative that improves not only link resolver quality but also improves discovery services, electronic resource management (ERM) systems, and even Counting Online Usage of Networked Electronic Resources (COUNTER) usage reports. In this column we quickly review the history of KBART from its inception in 2007 through the creation of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 best practices. Then we investigate how KBART can positively influence the quality of discovery services, ERM systems, and COUNTER. Finally, we put forward some suggestions on how KBART can become the key to standardizing the exchange of holdings data within the information supply chain to address needs beyond link resolvers and eliminate some redundant holdings maintenance tasks in libraries.

Callisto Basic and Callisto Pro

Callisto Basic and Callisto Pro

PIE-J for Improving Access to e-Journal Content

Successfully connecting users to content in an online environment demands a high level of accuracy in the information eco-system. However, journal titles change names and International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSNs). When publishers, subject indexes, link resolvers, or other parties involved in connecting users to content fail to accurately represent the original details of cited articles, links fail, content becomes inaccessible except to very accomplished and determined librarians, and users become frustrated. The PIE-J (Presentation and Identification of E-Journals) offers a simple and common-sense set of recommended practices and guidelines for publishers and content providers to follow to standardize the presentation and identification of e-journal content.

Book Review: Developing and Managing Electronic Collections: The Essentials

Developing and Managing Electronic Collections: The Essentials. By Peggy Johnson. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2013. 186 p. $65 softcover (ISBN: 978-0-8389-1190-7). As Johnson comments in the preface, her goal is to offer practical advice in working through the many issues involved in providing library users access to online resources. She focuses on indexing and abstracting services, e-books, e-journals, and streaming multimedia; she does not address locally produced content, digital textbooks, games, or software. The book opens with a brief history of electronic resources in libraries. Although some readers may be tempted to slap the history, it both explains the context for many of the issues librarians face and introduces some essential vocabulary. For example, Johnson introduces terms like Open URL, link resolver, and digital rights management (DRM) as developments that helped libraries manage and provide access to electronic collections. In chapter 1, she also introduces issues such as equitable access, collection stability, and the differences in how publishers offer popular and scholarly content to libraries. Throughout the book, Johnson focuses on factors to consider when selecting, acquiring, and managing e-resources. For example, in the second chapter, she lists a dozen selection criteria, in addition to the standard criteria for all materials, which libraries should consider when selecting electronic resources. She explains the importance of criteria such as persistent content, discussing the implications of leasing content from an aggregator versus a publisher and of purchasing content with annual hosting fees. She also gives practical examples, such as Penguins decision to pull e-books from the aggregator OverDrive, of why these criteria are important for all types of libraries to consider. The chapter on licenses should be required reading for every library employee, not just those directly responsible for negotiating licenses. Johnson emphasizes that license terms override copyright law, then gives examples of how license terms can affect ILL, course reserves, patron use of the content, and patron privacy. She also explains key elements of licenses and introduces common language, such as authorized use and perpetual access, with brief examples to illustrate their importance. Throughout the licensing chapter, Johnson emphasizes that state law sometimes requires or prohibits certain terms. Finally, she tells readers that legal training is not essential for negotiating licenses; the author recommends sites for finding model licenses and discusses best practices in developing guidelines for license negotiation. Two chapters, on conducting business with suppliers and on working across organizational units, stress the importance of good communication. These chapters outline many issues peculiar to e-resources, such as issues to consider before agreeing to become a beta site for new products or major upgrades. …

Journal Article Retrieval in an Age of Open Access: How Journal Indexes Indicate Open Access Articles

As the number of Open Access (OA) journal articles increases dramatically, it is time to assess how journal article indexes, both free and subscription-based, retrieve and indicate OA full text. This study uses 471 samples of OA articles to compare OA article retrieval in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus, with Scopus representing subscription-based journal indexes. This study divides journal articles into two categories: Gold OA and Green OA. Gold OA articles are published in journals that make all their articles freely available on the Internet, and all other OA articles are placed in the Green OA category. The study finds that all three indexes can indicate Gold OA availability in one way or another, but they differ dramatically when indicating Green OA availability: Google Scholar can offer free full-text indicators for 96 percent of Green OA articles, PubMed's rate is 29 percent, and Scopus's is zero. Subscription-based journal indexes and OpenURL link resolvers are, at present, incapable of indicating Green OA full-text availability. Vendors of subscription-based indexes and OpenURL link resolvers must overcome this challenge in order to stay relevant in the age of OA. In the meantime, librarians may want to take advantage of Google Scholar and PubMed to better serve library patrons.

Have link resolvers helped or hurt? The relationship between ILL and OpenURL at a non‐SFX library

PurposeThis paper's purpose is to describe an investigation of whether the addition of an interlibrary loan link as an option in the OpenURL link resolver menu has an effect on interlibrary loan requests for articles.Design/methodology/approachFour years of link resolver clickthrough data were analyzed in conjunction with ten years of interlibrary loan article request data.FindingsThe data showed that requests to ILL increased at first, then fell, and then rose again. There is a correlation between link resolver clickthroughs and ILL requests.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper employed data gathered over a longer time period than previous research on this topic and thus provides a broader exploration of the effect of providing links to ILL through a link resolver. While most OpenURL clickthrough data employed in research are gathered from the SFX OpenURL resolver, here the authors used WebBridge.Originality/valueThis paper offers an example of how non‐SFX institutions can employ clickthrough data to explore issues such as user behavior with regard to ILL.

エラータ：文献データベースと電子ジャーナルの利用行動に対するリンクリゾルバの影響の分析 [情報知識学会誌 Vol. 22 (2012) No. 3 p. 238-252

エラータ：文献データベースと電子ジャーナルの利用行動に対するリンクリゾルバの影響の分析 [情報知識学会誌 Vol. 22 (2012) No. 3 p. 238-252

エラータ：文献データベースと電子ジャーナルの利用行動に対するリンクリゾルバの影響の分析 [情報知識学会誌 Vol. 22 (2012) No. 3 p. 238-252

エラータ：文献データベースと電子ジャーナルの利用行動に対するリンクリゾルバの影響の分析 [情報知識学会誌 Vol. 22 (2012) No. 3 p. 238-252