40 · SPEC Kit 300
Xenu (3)
Link checking software provided by the university
Software provided by library ILS
“Currently investigating new software.”
14. Has the library experienced any other significant link maintenance issues that are unique to OA
resources? N=64
Yes 8 12%
No 56 88%
If yes, please briefly describe the problem and how the library addressed it.
Selected Comments from Respondents
“3000+ OA journals in link resolver have frequent URL changes and require more maintenance than average
title. Also have tendency to disappear.”
“In local Electronic Resources database the links are checked infrequently. Links break and it is difficult to
trace to correct resource. Manually checked in ERDB, now moving to Serials Solutions, they do most work.
Occasionally, we find a problem and send it to them. Not as time consuming as before.”
“Not significant problems, but it is our impression that URLs may change more frequently than other resources
or journals may go from open access to subscription-based without notification.”
“OA resources are no more volatile than the paid titles equally problematic for maintenance.”
“OA resources, particularly Canadian government documents, seem to be less stable than our subscribed
resources. The government documents are the group most likely to have URL changes that we are not notified
about except through problem reports.”
“Occasionally, there are titles that are listed as OA but are not full OA or are not OA at all. Those problems we
fix in our SFX Knowledgebase and report problems to SFX.”
“Often it takes longer for OA sites to resolve technical difficulties at their end. Normally if a free e-resource is
not available we delete it. We tend to give truly OA sites a little longer before making this decision.”
“Sometimes a title seems to be free and then it requires payment. Sometimes a title drops from DOAJ because
it no longer meets their criteria and we point to DOAJ in our link resolver.”
“These ‘free’ e-journals often move to paid subscriptions without notifying libraries, and in some instances
they vanish without notice.”
Xenu (3)
Link checking software provided by the university
Software provided by library ILS
“Currently investigating new software.”
14. Has the library experienced any other significant link maintenance issues that are unique to OA
resources? N=64
Yes 8 12%
No 56 88%
If yes, please briefly describe the problem and how the library addressed it.
Selected Comments from Respondents
“3000+ OA journals in link resolver have frequent URL changes and require more maintenance than average
title. Also have tendency to disappear.”
“In local Electronic Resources database the links are checked infrequently. Links break and it is difficult to
trace to correct resource. Manually checked in ERDB, now moving to Serials Solutions, they do most work.
Occasionally, we find a problem and send it to them. Not as time consuming as before.”
“Not significant problems, but it is our impression that URLs may change more frequently than other resources
or journals may go from open access to subscription-based without notification.”
“OA resources are no more volatile than the paid titles equally problematic for maintenance.”
“OA resources, particularly Canadian government documents, seem to be less stable than our subscribed
resources. The government documents are the group most likely to have URL changes that we are not notified
about except through problem reports.”
“Occasionally, there are titles that are listed as OA but are not full OA or are not OA at all. Those problems we
fix in our SFX Knowledgebase and report problems to SFX.”
“Often it takes longer for OA sites to resolve technical difficulties at their end. Normally if a free e-resource is
not available we delete it. We tend to give truly OA sites a little longer before making this decision.”
“Sometimes a title seems to be free and then it requires payment. Sometimes a title drops from DOAJ because
it no longer meets their criteria and we point to DOAJ in our link resolver.”
“These ‘free’ e-journals often move to paid subscriptions without notifying libraries, and in some instances
they vanish without notice.”
