OhioLINK OLinks: What Is It?
What is OLinks?
OLinks allows users to link to the full text of an article from a citation found in abstracting and indexing databases. It has been implemented in databases we subscribe to from Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, EBSCO, ISI, MathSciNet, NISC, OCLC, OSearch (OhioLINK databases), ProQuest (some databases), PubMed. Penny can contact vendors about adding OLinks to their interface.
The OLinks script checks these full text aggregators in priority order: OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center, OSU's OLinks file, Wilson (for Art Abstracts and Education Abstracts), EBSCO.
OpenURL Format
OpenURL compatible URLs use a consistent format to represent the volume, issue and starting page. For example an article from the
American Journal of Botany via HighWire Press has the URL http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/reprint/95/9/1072 in which 95 is the volume, 9 is the issue and 1072 is the starting page.
The intent of OLinks is to link the user directly to the article. However the publisher's URL format may require linking to the issue, volume, or journal level.
Journals must have an ISSN in order to be included in OLinks.
View the OSU OLinks file
An updated OLinks file is sent to OhioLINK monthly.
Delays adding new e-journals to OLinks
A monthly boolean is done to identify newly cataloged e-journals. A title is added to OLinks only after the bib record has been unsuppressed. Suppressed titles are checked monthly.
Cautions and troubleshooting
If an OLinks link does not work consult the OLinks Troubleshooting FAQ.
Regional campuses access
Regional Campus users may see a link to full text on the OLinks page but be unable to view it because their campus is not included in our license for that electronic journal.
Report problems
Library patrons can report OLinks problems via the Webmaster form.
Library staff should contact Penny Pearson (292-6247).
ppearson rev. 9/24/08