SFX (software) explained

SFX was the first OpenURL link resolver or link server.^[1] It remains the most widely used OpenURL resolver, being used by over 2,400 libraries.^[2]

Librarians Herbert van de Sompel, Patrick Hochstenbach and their colleagues at Ghent University in Belgium developed the OpenURL framework from 1998 to 2000. At that time they called it by the working title Special Effects (SFX). As part of the OpenURL development, they implemented the linking server software called SFX server. In early 2000, Ex Libris Group acquired the SFX server software from Ghent University. Ex Libris re-engineered the software and marketed it to libraries as an autonomous component of the OpenURL framework.^[3]

Ex Libris continues to develop the software and add enhancements recommended by its customers.^[4] SFX is the most widely known OpenURL link server within the library and scholarly publishing community, and occasionally the product name has been used as a generic term for OpenURL link servers.

Further reading

• Chrzastowski . Tina E . Norman . Michael . Elizabeth Miller . Sarah . 2009 . SFX statistical reports: a primer for collection assessment librarians . Collection Management . 34 . 4. 286–303 . 10.1080/01462670903177912 . 2142/28570 . 62670349 . free .
• Cummings . Joel . Johnson . Ryan . 2003 . The use and usability of SFX: context-sensitive reference linking . Library Hi Tech . 21 . 1. 70–84 . 10.1108/07378830310467418 . 10150/106193 .
• Lagace . Nettie . 2003 . The OpenURL and SFX Linking . The Serials Librarian . 44 . 1/2. 77–89 . 10.1300/j123v44n01_10. 62625330 . free .
• Masuda. Yutaka . 2002 . OpenURL and SFX . Current Awareness. 274 . 0387-8007.
• Van de Sompel . Herbert . Patrick Hochstenbach . April 1999 . Reference linking in a hybrid library environment: Part 1: Frameworks for Linking . D-Lib Magazine . 5 . 4 . 10.1045/april99-van_de_sompel-pt1 . 2009-02-14 . free .
• Van de Sompel . Herbert . Patrick Hochstenbach . April 1999 . Reference linking in a hybrid library environment. Part 2: SFX, a Generic Linking Solution . D-Lib Magazine . 5 . 4 . 10.1045/april99-van_de_sompel-pt2 . free . 2009-02-14 .
• Van de Sompel . Herbert . Oren Beit-Arie . July–August 2001 . Generalizing the OpenURL framework beyond references to scholarly works: The Bison-Futé model . D-Lib Magazine . 7 . 7/8 . 10.1045/july2001-vandesompel . free .
• Wakimoto . JC . Walker . DS . Dabbour . KS . 2006 . The myths and realities of SFX in academic libraries . Journal of Academic Librarianship . 32 . 2. 127–136 . 10.1016/j.acalib.2005.12.008.
• Walker . Jenny . 2002 . SFX sets the Standard for Open Linking for Libraries . Library Hi Tech News . 19 . 4 . 10.1108/lhtn.2002.23919daf.003.
• Walker . Jenny . OpenURL and SFX Linking . The Serials Librarian . 2004 . 45 . 3 . 87–100 . 10.1300/J123v45n03_07. 62377045 .
• Encyclopedia: Walker . Jenny . Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science . SFX . 2004 . Marcel Dekker . 894978271. 2nd. 0-8247-2075-X.

Notes and References

1. Robertson . Wendy C. . Paul A. Soderdahl . 2004 . Everything you always wanted to know about SFX but were afraid to ask . The Serials Librarian . 47 . 1/2 . 129–138 . 10.1300/J123v47n01_09 . 16829037 . 2009-02-14 .
2. Web site: SFX: Overview . 2014-01-23 . Ex Libris, Ltd .
3. Van de Sompel . Herbert . Oren Beit-Arie . March 2001 . Open linking in the scholarly information environment using the OpenURL framework . . 7 . 3 . 10.1045/march2001-vandesompel . free .
4. Web site: IGeLU – The International Group of Ex Libris Users.