COinS

ContextObjects in Spans (COinS) is a method to embed bibliographic metadata in the HTML code of web pages. This allows bibliographic software to publish machine-readable bibliographic items and client reference management software to retrieve bibliographic metadata. The metadata can also be sent to an OpenURL resolver. This allows, for instance, searching for a copy of a book at a specific library.[1]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Data model
* 3 Use
* 3.1 Server-side applications
* 3.2 Client tools
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 Further reading
* 7 External links

## History

In the late 1990s, OpenURL was created at Ghent University as a framework to provide context-sensitive links. The OpenURL link server implementation called SFX was sold to Ex Libris Group which marketed it to libraries, shaping the idea of a "link resolver". The OpenURL framework was later standardized as ANSI/NISO Z39.88 in 2004 (revised 2010).[2] A core part of OpenURL was the concept of "ContextObjects" as metadata to describe referenced resources.

In late 2004, Richard Cameron, the creator of CiteULike, drew attention to the need for a standard way of embedding metadata in HTML pages.[3] In January 2005, Daniel Chudnov suggested the use of OpenURL.[4] Embedding OpenURL ContextObjects in HTML had been proposed before by Herbert Van de Sompel and Oren Beit-Arie[5] and a working paper by Chudnov and Jeremy Frumkin.[6] Discussion of the latter on the GPS-PCS mailing list[7] resulted in a draft specification for embedding OpenURLs in HTML,[8] which later became COinS. A ContextObject is embedded in an HTML span element.

The adoption of COinS was pushed by various publications and implementations. The specification was OCOinS.info, which includes specific guides to implement COinS for journal articles and books.[9] Despite the specification webpage no longer being live, the standard is still usable, though fairly rare.[10]

## Data model

From OpenURL 1.0, COinS borrows one of its serialization formats ("KEV") and some ContextObject metadata formats included in OpenURL implementation guidelines.[11] The ContextObject implementation guidelines of COinS include four publication types (article with several subtypes, book, patent, and generic) and a couple of simple fields. However, the guidelines are not a required part of COinS, so the standard does not provide a strict metadata model like Dublin Core or the Bibliographic Ontology.

## Use

The use of COinS is still fairly rare.[12][10]

The following websites make use of COinS:

* HubMed
* Wikipedia[13]

### Server-side applications

Some server-side applications embed COinS, including refbase.[14]

### Client tools

Client tools which can make use of COinS include:

* BibDesk[15]
* Bookends (Mac)
* Citavi[16]
* LibX
* Mendeley[17]
* ResearchGate
* Sente (Mac)
* Zotero[18]

## See also

* Info URI scheme
* HTML Microdata
* KBART
* Microformat
* RDFa
* UnAPI

## References

1. ↑ Chudnov, Daniel (14 July 2006). "COinS for the Link Trail". Library Journal: 8–10. http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6344742.html.
2. ↑ ANSI/NISO Z39.88-2004(R2010) – The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services. National Information Standards Organization. 2004. ISBN 978-1-880124-61-1. http://www.niso.org/apps/group_public/project/details.php?project_id=82. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
3. ↑ Cameron, Richard (20 December 2004). "Autodiscovery and embedding metadata". http://old.onebiglibrary.net/yale/cipolo/gcs-pcs-list/2004-December/000004.html.
4. ↑ Chudnov, Daniel (6 January 2005). "sample inline openurl". http://old.onebiglibrary.net/yale/cipolo/gcs-pcs-list/2005-January/000010.html.
5. ↑ Van de Sompel, Herbert; Beit-Arie, Oren (July–August 2001). "Generalizing the OpenURL Framework beyond References to Scholarly Works – The Bison-Futé Model". D-Lib Magazine 7 (7/8). doi:10.1045/july2001-vandesompel. ISSN 1082-9873. http://www.dlib.org/dlib/july01/vandesompel/07vandesompel.html.
6. ↑ Chudnov, Daniel; Frumkin, Jeremy (10 December 2004). "Service Autodiscovery for Rapid Information Movement". http://curtis.med.yale.edu/dchud/writings/sa4rim.html.
7. ↑ "gcs-pcs-list". https://groups.google.com/group/gcs-pcs-list.
8. ↑ Hellman, Eric, ed. "Latent OpenURLs in HTML for Resource Autodiscovery, Localization and Personalization". OCOinS.info. http://ocoins.info/latent-class.html.
9. ↑ "OpenURL COinS: A Convention to Embed Bibliographic Metadata in HTML". http://ocoins.info/.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Tan, Hao (11 November 2025). "Making Research Easier to Save: A Guide to Zotero Integration for Academic Websites". https://cdh.princeton.edu/blog/2025/11/11/making-research-easier-to-save-a-guide-to-zotero-integration-for-academic-websites/.
11. ↑ Apps, Ann (16 April 2003). "Z39.88-2004 KEV Implementation Guidelines". MIMAS, The University of Manchester, UK. http://epub.mimas.ac.uk/openurl/KEV_Guidelines-200706.html#sect5_4.
12. ↑ Bleier, Roman (15 October 2021). "How to cite this digital edition?". Digital Humanities Quarterly 15 (3). ISSN 1938-4122. https://dhq.digitalhumanities.org/vol/15/3/000561/000561.html.
13. ↑ "Wikipedia:COinS" (in en). 17 December 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:COinS.
14. ↑ "Standard link resolver support: OpenURL & COinS". http://www.refbase.net/index.php/Standard_link_resolver_support:_OpenURL_&_COinS.
15. ↑ "BibDesk Help: 5.10.5 Web Group". https://bibdesk.sourceforge.io/manual/BibDeskHelp_37.html.
16. ↑ "Importing with the Hunter". https://www1.citavi.com/sub/manual5/en/index.html?picker_hunter.html.
17. ↑ Reichelt, Jan (5 August 2009). "Mendeley Web now supports COinS". http://www.mendeley.com/blog/academic-features/mendeley-web-now-supports-coins/.
18. ↑ "dev:exposing metadata:coins". https://www.zotero.org/support/dev/exposing_metadata/coins.

## Further reading

* Hellman, Eric (June 16, 2009). "OpenURL COinS: A convention to embed bibliographic metadata in HTML". OCLC New Jersey. http://ocoins.info/.
* "Registry for the OpenURL Framework – ANSI/NISO Z39.88-2004". http://alcme.oclc.org/openurl/servlet/OAIHandler?verb=ListRecords&metadataPrefix=oai_dc&set=Core:Metadata+Formats.
* "OpenURL Syntax Description". http://alcme.oclc.org/openurl/docs/pdf/openurl-01.pdf.
* "Matrix defining the KEV Format to represent a journal publication". January 2004. http://alcme.oclc.org:80/openurl/servlet/OAIHandler/extension?verb=GetMetadata&metadataPrefix=mtx&identifier=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal.
* "Matrix defining the KEV Format to represent a book". January 2004. http://alcme.oclc.org:80/openurl/servlet/OAIHandler/extension?verb=GetMetadata&metadataPrefix=mtx&identifier=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:book.
* "Matrix defining the KEV Format to represent a patent". January 2004. http://alcme.oclc.org:80/openurl/servlet/OAIHandler/extension?verb=GetMetadata&metadataPrefix=mtx&identifier=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:patent.
* "Matrix defining the KEV Format to represent a dissertation". January 2004. http://alcme.oclc.org:80/openurl/servlet/OAIHandler/extension?verb=GetMetadata&metadataPrefix=mtx&identifier=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation.
* "Z39.88-2004: The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services The Key/Encoded-Value (KEV) Format Implementation Guidelines". June 2007. http://epub.mimas.ac.uk/openurl/KEV_Guidelines-200706.html.
* "Z39.88-2004: The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services The Key/Encoded-Value (KEV) Format Implementation Guidelines, Appendices". June 2007. http://epub.mimas.ac.uk/openurl/KEV_Guidelines_Ap-200706.html.
* "Z39.88-2004: The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services The Key/Encoded-Value (KEV) Format Implementation Guidelines, Examples". June 2007. http://epub.mimas.ac.uk/openurl/KEV_Guidelines_Egs-200706.html.
* "Z39.88-2004: The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services The Key/Encoded-Value (KEV) Format Implementation Guidelines". http://epub.mimas.ac.uk/openurl/KEV_Guidelines-200706.pdf.
* Apps, Ann; MacIntyre, Ross (May 2006). Why OpenURL?. 12. ISSN 1082-9873. https://dlib.org/dlib/may06/apps/05apps.html.
* Apps, Ann; MacIntyre, Ross (3 October 2006). "Proceedings of the International Conference on Dublin Core and Metadata Applications". Dublin Core Metadata Initiative. doi:10.23106/DCMI.952108588.
* Apps, Ann; MacIntyre, Ross (2008). "ELPUB 2008 International Conference on Electronic Publishing, Toronto (Canada), 25-27 June 2008".
* Ashmore, Beth; Grogg, Jill E. (2006). "Google and OCLC open libraries on the Open Web". Searcher (Medford, New Jersey: Learned information) 14 (10): 44–53. Gale A154562387. ISSN 1070-4795.
* Bailey, Annette; Back, Godmar (29 February 2008). "Retrieving known items with LibX". The Serials Librarian 53 (4): 125–140. doi:10.1300/J123v53n04_09. ISSN 0361-526X.
* Boston, George; Gedeon, Randle J. (2008). "Beyond OpenURL: Technologies for linking library resources". Electronic resource management in libraries: Research and practice. Hershey, Pennsylvania: Information Science Reference, IGI Global. pp. 235–249. doi:10.4018/978-1-59904-891-8.ch013. ISBN 978-1-59904-891-8. http://elibrary.bsu.edu.az/files/books_rax/N_364.pdf#page=260.
* Chang, Sheau-Hwang (2007). "Full-text article linking: Where are we now?". Chinese Librarianship 23 (2). http://www.white-clouds.com/iclc/cliej/cl23chang.htm.
* Chudnov, Daniel; England, Deberah (19 May 2008). "A new approach to library service discovery and resource delivery". The Serials Librarian 54 (1–2): 63–69. doi:10.1080/03615260801973448. ISSN 0361-526X.
* Chudnov, Daniel (2005-10-24). "COinS browser extensions for your library". Yale School of Medicine. http://curtis.med.yale.edu/dchud/resolvable/.
* Chudnov, Daniel (Summer 2006). "COinS for the Link Trail". NetConnect (New York City: Reed Business Information): 8–10. ISSN 1946-8776. OCLC 551951240.
* Chudnov, Daniel; Binkley, Peter; Frumkin, Jeremy; Giarlo, Michael; Rylander, Mike; Singer, Ross; Summers, Ed (30 July 2006). "Introducing unAPI". Ariadne (48). doi:10.7939/R3X921W05. http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue/48/chudnov-et-al/.
* Dempsey, Kathy (April 2007). "A dozen primers on important information standards". Computers in Libraries (Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc.) 27 (4): 11–23. ERIC EJ760290. ISSN 1041-7915. https://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/apr07/.
* Dempsey, Lorcan (2006). "Libraries and the long tail: Some thoughts about libraries in a network age". D-Lib Magazine 12 (4). doi:10.1045/april2006-dempsey. ISSN 1082-9873. https://www.dlib.org/dlib/april06/dempsey/04dempsey.html.
* Donohue, Tim (2009-10-15). "The BibApp extension: A campus research gateway and expert finder" (in en). https://gupea.ub.gu.se/handle/2077/21343.
* Eaton, J. (2005). "COinS promises to extend OpenURL standard to meet the challenges posed by the ever widening range of bibliographic sources". Managing Information (London: ASLIB: The Association for Information Management) 12 (8): 39. ISSN 1352-0229. OCLC 1201231455.
* Jill E., Grogg (January 2006). "Linking and the OpenURL". Library Technology Reports 42 (1). doi:10.5860/ltr.42n1. ISSN 0024-2586. https://journals.ala.org/ltr/issue/view/176.
* Lagace, Nettie; Chisman, Janet K. (26 June 2007). "How did we ever manage without the OpenURL?". The Serials Librarian 52 (1–2): 211–222. doi:10.1300/J123v52n01_17. ISSN 0361-526X.
* MacIntyre, Ross (2006). "OpenURL and COinS". http://www.loc.gov/standards/sru/march06-meeting/slides/coins.ppt. Abstract
* Min, Gao; Yuling, Jin; Weiling, Liu (2008). "The development and innovative uses of OpenURL research" (in zh). Data Analysis and Knowledge Discovery 24 (2): 87–90. doi:10.11925/infotech.1003-3513.2008.02.16.
* "New & Noteworthy". Library Hi Tech News 22 (8). 1 September 2005. doi:10.1108/lhtn.2005.23922hab.001. ISSN 0741-9058.
* O'Riordan, Adrian (22 June 2014). "Open search environments: The free alternative to commercial search services". Information Technology and Libraries 33 (2): 45–60. doi:10.6017/ital.v33i2.4520. ISSN 2163-5226.
* Pace, Andrew K. (September 2005). "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em". American Libraries 36 (8): 78–79.
* Page, Roderic D. M. (21 September 2010). "Finding scientific articles in a large digital archive: BioStor and the Biodiversity Heritage Library". Nature Precedings (Springer Science and Business Media). doi:10.1038/npre.2010.4928.1. ISSN 1756-0357.
* Page, Roderic D. M. (2011). "Extracting scientific articles from a large digital archive: BioStor and the Biodiversity Heritage Library". BMC Bioinformatics 12 (1): 187. doi:10.1186/1471-2105-12-187. ISSN 1471-2105. PMID 21605356.
* Palmer, James D. (11 March 2007). "Proceedings of the 2007 ACM symposium on Applied computing". ACM. pp. 1673–1676. doi:10.1145/1244002.1244356. ISBN 978-1-59593-480-2.
* Ronallo, Jason (2012-02-03). "HTML5 microdata and Schema.org". The Code4Lib Journal (16). ISSN 1940-5758. https://journal.code4lib.org/articles/6400.
* Tanner, Rene; Flitner, Debbie (2021-06-25), Building a library toolbar with LibX, Arizona State University, https://keep.lib.asu.edu/system/files/2021-07/building-a-library-toolbar-with-libx.pdf, retrieved 2024-06-10
* Trainor, Cindi; Price, Jason S. (October 2010). "Rethinking library linking: Breathing new life into OpenURL". Library Technology Reports: Expert Guides to Library Systems and Services (ALA TechSource) 46 (7): The future of OpenURL linking: Adaptation and expansion, pp. 27-33. doi:10.5860/ltr.46n7. ISBN 978-0-8389-5813-1. ISSN 0024-2586. https://journals.ala.org/ltr/issue/view/167.

## External links

* "A Convention to Embed Bibliographic Metadata in HTML"
*   *   * – from Online Computer Library Center

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