a URL containing metadata of an object (i
a URL that links a citation to extended services that are independent of the information provider where the citation originates
OpenURL is an "actionable" URL that transports resource metadata. OpenURL standard is designed to support access from an information resource (source) to library service components (targets). A link resolver parses the elements of an OpenURL and provides the appropriate services that have been identified by the library. A source is generally a bibliographic citation or bibliographic record representing a work that can be used to generate an OpenURL. A target is a resource or service that helps satisfy user's information need. Examples include full-text repositories; abstracting, indexing, and citation databases; online library catalogs; and other Web resources and services (e.g., local ILL form, amazon.com). (Source: Steve Shadle, Electronic Serials Cataloging Workshop)
Provides a standardized format for transporting bibliographic metadata about objects between information services
Syntax to create Web-transportable packages of metadata and/or identifiers about an information object. Such packages are at the core of context-sensitive or open link technology. By standardizing this syntax, the OpenURL will enable many other innovative user-specific services. www.niso.org/committees/committee_ax.html