Quality Content • Resource Management • Access • Integration • Consultation

LinkSource®

EBSCO’s Single Source, Item-level Linking Solution

LinkSource® is…

A vendor-neutral, OpenURL link resolver that supports item-level linking across all of a library’s resources, including:

What is a “link resolver”?

Link resolvers solve the problems of…

Link Resolvers: Terms to Know

Knowledge Base

• Houses the collection details of e-resources

including e-journals, e-journal packages,

databases, e-books, coverage, ISSNs, ISBNs, and

more

• EBSCO’s Integrated Knowledge Base serves as

the knowledge base for LinkSource

• Auto-updated with e-resources acquired from

EBSCO

Item-level Linking

• Linking from a reference to an item (e.g., a citation to an article in a journal) to full text or another service related to the item

• Linking between online information systems, often from different vendors

OpenURL

• A syntax that expresses descriptive information about an item on a URL (bibliographic info such as ISSN, volume, issue, etc.)

• OpenURL link resolvers use these metadata elements to construct context-sensitive links to full text or other services related to the item referenced

The most powerful comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge base in the industry, made up of:

Managed by a team of over 40 people

EBSCO Integrated Knowledge Base is…

Where LinkSource fits into EBSCO’s Access Solutions

Management Solutions

Targets, Sources and the Knowledge Base

• A source (where the search was initiated) links to the link resolver, which then determines links to configured targets

• Once the customer’s full-text packages and databases are set up in EBSCO's Integrated Knowledge Base, the corresponding target links for LinkSource are automatically established

• The customer can then configure non-full text target links, such as links to their OPAC or ILL service

A

(source)LIBRARY SUBSCRIBES

PAY-PER-VIEW$$$

A

Some services offer links only to selective resources or targets. Without a link resolver, the user may not be directed to the appropriate

copy of article (A)—the one to which the library has a subscription.

Without a Link Resolver

With LinkSource, the librarian decides which copy is appropriate.

PAY-PER-VIEW$$$

LIBRARY SUBSCRIBES

A A

(source)

With a Link Resolver

Appropriate links added to

LinkSource

Controlled item-level linking to all of your library’s resources and related services.

The Result?

The End User ExperienceHow LinkSource appears to the end user

In this example, the article is not available in full text in the SocINDEX database. A link has been set up to

link to LinkSource.

In this example, the article is not available in full text in the SocINDEX database. A link has been set up to

link to LinkSource.

:

Clicking the link takes the user to the LinkSource menu.

Clicking the link takes the user to the LinkSource menu.

EBSCO’s Integrated Knowledge Base powers the display for the links to the

appropriate full text.

EBSCO’s Integrated Knowledge Base powers the display for the links to the

appropriate full text.

Execute searches on Google Scholar or other appropriate websites.

Execute searches on Google Scholar or other appropriate websites.

Coverage information is maintained in EBSCO's Integrated Knowledge Base

and can be displayed to the end users.

Coverage information is maintained in EBSCO's Integrated Knowledge Base

and can be displayed to the end users.

Link to and populate an ILL form if full text is not available in the

library’s resources.

Link to and populate an ILL form if full text is not available in the

library’s resources.

Link to and populate bibliographic management software.

Link to and populate bibliographic management software.

What administrative features are available?

For simplified management of links, LinkSource is administered through the EBSCO A-to-Z® Administrative site.

Admin features include:

And more.

Google is among one of the most popular search tools used by researchers.

Libraries can take advantage of Google Scholar and other linking services to drive traffic to library resources.

Direct Links to Your E-Journals from Google™ Scholar

Direct Links to Your E-Journals from Google™ Scholar

Google™ Scholar Results without LinkSource Enabled

Without LinkSource, Google Scholar will not search the holdings in the

library’s collection

Without LinkSource, Google Scholar will not search the holdings in the

library’s collection

Google™ Scholar Results

With LinkSource, a link will appear here when the title is

available electronically.

With LinkSource, a link will appear here when the title is

available electronically.

With LinkSource, a link will appear here when the title is

available in an alternate format.

With LinkSource, a link will appear here when the title is

available in an alternate format.

Appearance of LinkSource in Google™ Scholar

The link leads to the LinkSource menu.

The link leads to the LinkSource menu.

Full Text through LinkSource Menu

LinkSource will direct the end user to the full-text article if available.

LinkSource will direct the end user to the full-text article if available.

Summary: Why a Link Resolver?

For Users• Enables access to full text regardless of where

the search originates

• When full text is not available, alternatives to acquire full text—such as ILL—may be presented

For Libraries• Increases end user satisfaction by getting the

user to the full text copy

• Maximizes use of collection, improves return on investment in content

• Saves time in managing resources (no managing of complex link structures and holdings lists in multiple online services)

• Saves money by reducing ILL and document delivery charges

Why LinkSource?

• OpenURL, vendor-neutral link resolver

• Hosted on EBSCO’s servers

• No hardware purchase required

• Easy-to-use admin module

• Extensive branding capabilities

• Powered by EBSCO’s Integrated Knowledge Base

• Integration with other EBSCO access and management services

Quality Content • Resource Management • Access • Integration • Consultation

Questions?Contact: May Deliance

Mdeliance@ebsco.com

Thank You!