360 MARC Updates: Hosted Links vs. Direct Links in the 856 Field
- Product: 360 MARC Updates
What is the difference between hosted links and direct links in the 856 field in MARC records?
The 360 MARC Updates service supports two different kinds of links that you can have inserted into your MARC records in an 856 field: hosted links and direct links.
This document explains the advantages and disadvantages of using each kind of link, as well as some examples.
Hosted Links
A single link is used no matter how many different holdings for the title you have. This single link allows the patron to look up the holdings for the journal on our server that lists the links for each holding you have for that title.
Advantages of hosted links:
- Links to content are updated daily.
- The MARC record looks cleaner and less confusing to the patron.
- It can dramatically reduce the number of changed records that you receive, as changes to title-level links will not trigger a change record.
- If you select the E-Journal Portal results-page URL, you will be able to track the number of "click-throughs" originating from your OPAC, using the Usage Statistics feature in the Client Center. (From the Client Center Home page, click Usage Statistics, then select Search Type Report. The number of click-throughs is reported under MARC.)
- If you have a subscription to 360 Link and select the 360 Link results-page URL, the numbers for "click-throughs" originating from your OPAC will be combined with OpenURL statistics. (From the Client Center Home page, click Usage Statistics, then select Search Type Report. The number of click-throughs is reported under OpenURL.)
Disadvantages of hosted links:
- You don t have the holdings details in your records
- The patron will have to click one extra time to get to the content
Examples of hosted links (click the links to see how they look):
E-Journal Portal results-page URL:
856 40$zClick here for full text$uhttp://KA9YH9GR5U.search.serialssolutions.com/?V=1.0&L=KA9YH9GR5U&S=JCs&C=19THCENMUS&T=marc
360 Link results-page URL:
856 40$zClick here for full text$uhttp://KA9YH9GR5U.search.serialssolutions.com/?sid=sersol&SS_jc=19THCENMUS&title=19th+century+music
Direct Links
Separate 856 fields (including database name, dates, and URL) are created for each electronic holding you have selected in the Client Center for a given journal.
Advantages of direct links:
- The holdings data is stored in the record itself.
- Patrons have direct access to full text from the catalog with one click.
Disadvantages of direct links:
- Links are only updated monthly, with your monthly MARC update.
- When the holding is available through multiple databases, the record might look confusing to patrons.
- Statistics for direct-link "click-throughs" originating from your OPAC cannot be tracked using the Usage Statistics feature in the Client Center.
Examples of direct links:
856 40$zFull text available from JSTOR: 1977 to 2004$uhttp://www.jstor.org/action/showPub...thcenturymusic
856 40$zFull text available from JSTOR Music Collection: 1977 to 2004$uhttp://www.jstor.org/action/showPub...thcenturymusic
856 40$zFull text available from ProQuest 5000: 10/01/2001 to present$uhttp://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?RQT=318&pmid=18610
856 40$zFull text available from Research Library: 10/01/2001 to present$uhttp://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?RQT=318&pmid=18610
- Date Created: 9-Feb-2014
- Last Edited Date: 18-Oct-2016
- Old Article Number: 7292