Use of OpenURL

Structure of an OpenURL

An OpenURL comprises two parts:

• The "baseURL" identifies the ZBLSA broker: http://edina.ac.uk/zblsa
• A set of metadata parameters identify the item to be located, e.g.:

  issn

  ISSN number

  volume

  volume number

  issue

  issue number

  pages

  page range, e.g. 110-125

  spage

  start page

Examples of OpenURLs

• http://edina.ac.uk/zblsa?issn=0001-7272&volume=80&issue=4&spage=285
• http://edina.ac.uk/zblsa?genre=journal&title=Acta+zoologica

ZBLSA's use of OpenURLs

• ZBLSA will accept any valid OpenURL.
• Designed to locate single objects it considers only the first description field; subsequent instances of description are disregarded.
• The object-description is not limited by ZBLSA: all values that can be incorporated in queries to configured targets are used.
• The OpenURL should include all information available to a ZBLSA client. ZBLSA currently uses only fields relevant to currently configured targets; new targets accepting additional fields may be identified
• The range of metadata used to generate queries may be greater than the 'raw' metadata in the OpenURL as additional metadata may be derived from certain identifiers, e.g. from SICIs or DOIs.

ZBLSA accepts GET or POST requests. A portal may display ZBLSA results in a separate browser window.