What is SFX?
SFX is a product from a company called ExLibris. (http://www.exlibris-usa.com)
It is “linking technology” that allows libraries to seamlessly link
users from one electronic resource to another. For example, SFX will link users
from abstracting, linking and citation databases directly to the full-text of
articles. It can also link users to and from library catalogs, websites, and
commercial sites like Amazon.com.
How does SFX work?
SFX is based on a developing standard called OpenURL. In order for SFX to work,
an information resource must be “OpenURL enabled”. That is, they
must define the data of their records according to the OpenURL standard. If
they do, you can link from them to other resources.
For example, OCLC FirstSearch, Ovid and Gale resources are “OpenURL enabled”. These vendors have structured their records according to the OpenURL standard. (If you’re really interested, the standard can be found at: http://www.sfxit.com/openurl/openurl.html) You can link from these citation databases directly to the full text of articles from a variety of full-text providers.
Note: Horizon’s webpac is not OpenURL enabled. That is, we cannot link FROM it to other resources. We can, however, link TO it.
In order for SFX to work you must also be able to structure a URL to direct a search to an information provider such as JSTOR or Horizon. When, for example, you find a citation in OCLC’s WorldCat, you need to identify the provider you wish to point to (Horizon, for example). That is accomplished through the URL. In the case of Horizon, you can predefine a URL to do an automatic ISBN search, for example. So, we can link from OCLC WorldCat to our Catalog using the OpenURL field “ISBN”.