EBSCO Leverages OpenURL Technology to Facilitate Institutional Access through Google ™ Scholar

BIRMINGHAM , Ala. , U.S.A., June 16, 2005 – Including Google ™ Scholar as one of its OpenURL-enabled sources, EBSCO’s LinkSource ™ link resolver now allows EBSCO A-to-Z ® (A-to-Z) customers to activate their online resources through the search engine.

For example, in an academic library, end users at participating schools who use Google Scholar will see article-level links displayed for their institution’s subscriptions. These links will lead to the library’s LinkSource menu from which the user can access the appropriate copy of the article, bringing the licensed electronic full-text to just a click or two from the Google Scholar search results.

“EBSCO is excited to be working with Google in this endeavor,” said Oliver Pesch, EBSCO’s Chief Strategist of E-Resources. “Google has become a very popular search tool for end users. This, combined with the inherent value of Google Scholar’s indexing of peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports gives the libraries a unique opportunity to integrate their collections with the Google search experience.”

In recognition of the value this program extends to customers, EBSCO is pleased to provide this service at no additional charge to all A-to-Z customers who use an OpenURL link resolver, regardless of vendor. If your library is interested in participating in this program, please contact A-to-Z Customer Care at atozfeedback@ebsco.com.

About EBSCO A-to-Z
With nearly 1,000 customers, EBSCO’s A-to-Z service provides library patrons with a single, comprehensive list of the electronic titles to which they have access. A library’s print titles can also be included. With A-to-Z, users can quickly locate and link to journals of interest, searching for journals by keyword or browsing an alphabetical list by title or subject. Built-in administrative tools allow customization of the list including extensive branding options that allow the list to match the colors and style of the library's other Web-based services. The master A-to-Z title database provides link and coverage information to more than 88,000 unique titles from more than 800 database and e-journal packages from approximately 169 different providers. All major database vendors and publishers are represented.

About EBSCO Information Services
EBSCO Information Services provides libraries and research centers with online and print journal subscription services, e-resource access and management services, full-text and secondary database development and access, an OpenURL-compliant link resolver, online book purchasing and related information services. EBSCO maintains a title database of more than 298,000 serial titles and upholds relationships with more than 78,000 publishers around the world.

EBSCO’s 32 Regional Offices worldwide are staffed with personnel who speak the local language and understand the particular challenges faced by librarians in their areas, offering a uniquely personal level of service. Specialized divisions serve academic, biomedical, government, public, school and special libraries as well as corporations.