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Worldwide (English) Change

Enabling "deep" links from WorldCat.org to your library catalog via the WorldCat Registry

If your library is eligible to have its WorldCat holdings exposed via WorldCat.org and partner sites such as Google, deep linking is the means by which Web users arrive directly at an item record in your online catalog.

Deep linking helps information seekers cross the "last mile," going directly from (1) WorldCat.org results for a keyword search to (2) a listing of libraries holding a specific title to (3) the item record in a selected library's OPAC.

Illustration: How deep linking helps Web searchers cross the 'last mile'

If your library has not initiated deep linking, WorldCat.org users do not reach your individual item record; they're taken instead to your catalog's main search page, where they must repeat their search.

To ensure deep links to your individual catalog records, take a few minutes now to register the correct URL "syntax" (link structure) for your OPAC. Your deep-linking syntax is maintained in the WorldCat Registry (http://www.worldcat.org/registry/institution/). The WorldCat Registry is a free Web tool that provides a single location from which any library can manage and distribute data that describes its institutional identity and services. (Learn more about the Registry at http://www.worldcat.org/webservices/registry/xsl/about.)

To determine your deep-link syntax using the table below, you'll need to know the name of your library's Integrated Library System (ILS) vendor.

Deep-linking URL syntax by vendor

A deep link's "syntax" is the basic structure of the link, focusing on where standard identifier information about the searched item (ISBN, ISSN or OCLC Number) is embedded within the URL. The table below shows common ILS vendors and the syntax of their deep-link URLs.

In each URL listed, bold text indicates the component of the URL that you replace with the base URL for your OPAC (e.g. "catalog.mylibrary.org"). Bold italicized text may need to be changed depending on your local configuration. (Important notes on some systems' URL structures are in the footnotes below.)

Vendor URL Syntax
Aleph http://library_opac_baseURL/F/?func=findb&local_base=uli02&
find_code=WSB&request= (see footnote below)
Endeavor (Voyager) http://library_opac_baseURL/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&
CNT=25&HIST=1&BOOL1=as+a+phrase&FLD1=ISBN+(ISBN)&SAB1= (see footnote below)
EOS GLAS http://library_opac_baseURL/GLASOPAC/Search/AdvancedSearch.asp?
IsFirstDisplay=FALSE&GoPressed=TRUE&ShowOptions=FALSE&selectField1=8&txtSearch1=
EOS Q-Series / EOS.Web http://library_opac_baseURL/WEBOPAC/search/AdvancedSearch.asp?
IsFirstDisplay=FALSE&GoPressed=TRUE&ShowOptions=FALSE&selectField1=IS&txtSearch1=
GIS Information Systems For Polaris 3.0:
http://library_opac_baseURL/Polaris/Search/z3950Gateway.dll/PowerPac.1?
by=ISBN&loc=SearchResult&term=

For Polaris 3.1:
http://library_opac_baseURL/Search/PowerPAC.zag?term=XXXISBNXXX&by=ISBN&
type= Keyword&loc=FullDisplay&action=dash&SessionOrgID=1

For Polaris 3.2:
http://library_opac_baseURL/view.aspx?isbn=
Innovative http://library_opac_baseURL/search/i= (see footnote below)
Dynix (iPac) http://library_opac_baseURL/ipac20/ipac.jsp?index=ISBN&term= (see footnote below)
Koha http://library_opac_baseURL/cgi-bin/koha/opac-searchresults.pl?isbn=
OLIB http://library_opac_baseURL?isxn=
Pica http://library_opac_baseURL/DB=1/LNG=DU/CMD?ACT=SRCHA&IKT=1007&SRT=YOP&TRM=
Sirsi (WebCat) http://library_opac_baseURL/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/5/?searchdata1= (see footnote below)
Sirsi / DRA http://library_opac_baseURL/web2/tramp2.exe/do_authority_search/guest?SETTING_KEY=
English&location_group_filter=all&servers=1home&index=(&query= (see footnote below)
SunRise http://library_opac_baseURL/client_name/start.do?Query=540= (see footnote below)
SydneyPlus http://library_opac_baseURL/cgi/swebsch.exe?sort=til&sortType=asc&spfield=isbn&
thesfld=false&lang=&ini=splusweb&uid=public&idck=&eid=&text= (see footnote below)
Talis (Prism) http://library_opac_baseURL/TalisPrism/doSearch.do?searchType=advSearch&st1=
controlNumber&searchLocations=talislms&sv1=
TLC http://library_opac_baseURL/TLCScripts/interpac.dll?Browse&Config=PSL&SearchType=3&
SearchField=4096&SearchData= (see footnote below)

Table footnotes

Aleph

The func parameter on some systems may require find-b instead of findb. The name of the local_base parameter may vary by library. Replace the find_code parameter WSB with ISBN for ISBN, ISSN for ISSN, or 035 for OCLC Number. A second known format is:

http://library_opac_baseURL/ALEPH/-/ext-find?base=librarybasecode&find=020=

(Variations on the find parameter here are 020 for ISBN, 022 for ISSN, and 035 for OCLC Number ).

Endeavor (Voyager)

Listed above is the URL structure for ISBN. For ISSN, replace both instances of ISBN with ISSN. A different URL structure exists for OCLC Number:

http://library_opac_baseURL/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&BOOL1=all+of+these&FLD1=
Keyword+Anywhere+(GKEY)&CNT=25+records+per+page&SAB1=

Innovative

Replace the closing i= with o= for OCLC Number.

Dynix (iPac)

Replace the index parameter ISBN with ISSN for ISSN and either UTIL, OCLC, or CNTRL for OCLC Number. Another variation is to use ISBNEX, ISSNEX and UTILEX, respectively, as the index terms. A third variation is .BN and .SN, with no known value for OCLC Number. On shared catalogs, an additional parameter &profile= is often used where the code that follows the equals sign indicates which library you are searching.

Sirsi

There are many known variations. Three common variations are:

http://library_opac_baseURL/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5/?searchdata1=
http://library_opac_baseURL/uhtbin/isbn-search/
http://library_opac_baseURL/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/5/?searchdata1=

with the last variation used for Windows NT-based OPACs. See the tip below about session identifiers.

Sirsi/DRA

Listed above is the URL structure for ISBN. For ISSN, the left parenthesis following index= changes to a right parenthesis, as in index=). A second known format is:

http://library_opac_baseURL/web2/tramp2.exe/do_ccl_search/guest?SETTING_KEY=English&
location_group_filter=all&servers=library_code_optional_if_shared_OPAC&
index=sb&query=

(Variations on the index parameter here are ss for ISSN ). A third known format is:

http://library_opac_baseURL/web2/tramp2.exe/do_authority_search/guest?SETTING_KEY=
English&servers=1home&index=bn&query=

(Variations on the index parameter here are sn for ISSN, and index=%5e for OCLC Number ).

SunRise

Listed above is the URL structure for ISBN. For ISSN, replace Query=540= with Query=543=.

SydneyPlus

Listed above is the URL structure for ISBN. For ISSN, use:

http://library_opac_baseURL/cgi/swebsch.exe?sort=til&sortType=asc&spfield=issn&
thesfld=false&ini=splusweb&uid=public&text=

TLC

Listed above is the URL structure for ISBN. For ISSN, the SearchField parameter becomes 8192. In some systems, the CONFIG parameter may change to PAC.

Tips on deep link construction

  • Deep links should be constructed so that the ISSN, ISBN or OCLC number is at the end  of the URL string.
  • Deep links cannot include semicolons (;) or carats (^)—they will cause links to break, even though they will seem to work correctly when tested.
  • Deep links cannot include a unique session identifier. A session ID is a device for tracking a specific user's visit to a Web site which expires after a preset time of inactivity; it often appears as a long, random string of letters and/or numbers. Sirsi catalog links almost always have a session ID value, so be sure to remove it when constructing your syntax.

Need help?

Note that older or newer versions of some OPAC software may require modifications to the URLs above. For assistance on deep-link syntax, contact OCLC support at support@oclc.org or your OPAC vendor.

Registering your deep-link syntax in WorldCat Registry

  1. Visit the WorldCat Registry at http://www.worldcat.org/registry/institution/. If you have previously visited the Registry and created a user account, sign in with that account, then go to step 4.
  2. If you do not have a Registry user account, do so using the "Create a User Account" facility. This link is available on the home page and at the bottom of every Registry page. (Note: User accounts you may have for the OCLC Online Service Center or WebJunction can be used here.)
  3. The WorldCat Registry is pre-populated with profiles for many institutions inside and outside the OCLC cooperative. Holders of new accounts should first attempt to locate an existing profile for their institution and have their account authorized by OCLC to make changes to that profile. (Unauthorized accounts can only add information to blank fields in existing institutional profiles; information added by unauthorized accounts is subject to verification by OCLC.)

    To locate an existing profile, click the "Authorize Me to Manage a Profile" link at the bottom of any Registry page. Click the "Search for my institution's profile" link and conduct a search using words from the name of your institution.
    Illustration: Authorize Me to Manage a Profile screen
    If you find a profile for your institution, select the corresponding radio button and click the "Select an Institution for Authorization" button.
    Illustration: Select an Institution for Authorization
    The following "Authorize Me for [Library Name]" screen will offer two options. Your account can be instantly authorized to manage your Registry profile by inputting an enterprise authorization for an OCLC service such as FirstSearch or Connexion. If you do not have this, your request will be processed manually by OCLC to verify your affiliation with your institution.
    Illustration: Authorize Me for [Library Name] screen
    Can't find a profile for your institution?
    If you do not find an existing profile, click "Add New Institution" at the top of your search results, or use the "Create a New Profile" link at the bottom of any Registry page. You will be prompted to begin building a new profile for which you will automatically be authorized.

    Illustration: Create a New Profile screen
  4. If you are logged in and have been authorized to manage your institution's Registry profile, click the "My Institutions" link at top right of any Registry page.
    Illustration: My Institutions link
    Click the name of the institution for which you are setting a deep-linking syntax. The institution's Profile Summary page is displayed. In the left-hand profile navigation pane, click the "Online Catalog" link in the Services section.
    Illustration: Left-hand profile navigation pane
    Click the "Edit this page" button on the Online Catalog screen to enter Edit mode.
  5. Once you have adapted a deep-linking URL syntax using the information in this guide, enter the URL in the corresponding "Online Catalog Direct to" field for the type of standard identifier your syntax uses. (For instance, if your syntax utilizes ISBNs, enter your URL in the "Online Catalog Direct to ISBN" field.)
    Illustration: Edit Online Catalog screen
  6. To test your URL, click the "Test" link. The link will open a new window within your Web browser, and load your proposed URL syntax with a preset ISBN, ISSN or OCLC Number appended to the end of the URL string. (In each case, OCLC has selected a standard number that represents a widely held resource.)

    A successful test should display your ILS interface and, within it, your local record for the test item. (If you do not hold the item, whatever message or interface facility your ILS employs for "record not found" should be displayed.)
  7. When you have successfully tested the URL, fill in any additional information on the Edit Online Catalog screen appropriate for your institution, such as your OPAC's vendor and your catalog base URL. Click the "Save Changes" button to preserve your changes.

Deep links from the WorldCat.org interface to individual catalog records in your OPAC will be functional on the next business day.

Also see: Dynamic OPAC linking to WorldCat.org for "Nearby Libraries" results