COinS

Bibliographic metadata embedding method

Not to be confused with Coins.

An example of referrers acting on a Wikipedia article using citation templates with embedded COinS tags

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]

## History

[edit]

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]

## Summary of the data model

[edit]

From OpenURL 1.0, COinS borrows one of its serialization formats ("KEV") and some ContextObject metadata formats included in OpenURL implementation guidelines.[10] 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 in websites

[edit]

The following websites make use of COinS:

* HubMed
* Wikipedia[11]

## Server-side applications

[edit]

Some server-side applications embed COinS, including refbase.[12]

## Client tools

[edit]

Client tools which can make use of COinS include:

* BibDesk[13]
* Bookends (Mac)
* Citavi[14]
* LibX
* Mendeley[15]
* ResearchGate
* Sente (Mac)
* Zotero[16]

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Chudnov, Daniel (2006-07-14). "COinS for the Link Trail". Library Journal: 8–10\. Archived from the original on 2006-10-22.
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. Archived from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
3. ^ Cameron, Richard (2004-12-20). "Autodiscovery and embedding metadata". gcs-pcs-list. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
4. ^ Chudnov, Daniel (2005-01-06). "sample inline openurl". gcs-pcs-list. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
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.
6. ^ Chudnov, Daniel; Frumkin, Jeremy (2004-12-10). "Service Autodiscovery for Rapid Information Movement". curtis.med.yale.edu. Archived from the original on 2004-12-15.
7. ^ "gcs-pcs-list". Google Groups. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
8. ^ Hellman, Eric (ed.). "Latent OpenURLs in HTML for Resource Autodiscovery, Localization and Personalization" (draft). OCOinS.info. Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
9. ^ "OpenURL COinS: A Convention to Embed Bibliographic Metadata in HTML". ocoins.info. Archived from the original on 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2014-09-24.
10. ^ Apps, Ann (2003-04-16). "Z39.88-2004 KEV Implementation Guidelines". MIMAS, The University of Manchester, UK. Archived from the original on 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
11. ^ "Wikipedia:COinS". Wikipedia. 2019-12-17.
12. ^ "Standard link resolver support: OpenURL & COinS". refbase. Archived from the original on 2023-03-11. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
13. ^ "BibDesk Help: 5.10.5 Web Group". bibdesk.sourceforge.io. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
14. ^ "Importing with the Hunter". Citavi Manual. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
15. ^ Reichelt, Jan (2009-08-05). "Mendeley Web now supports COinS". Mendeley Blog. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
16. ^ "dev:exposing metadata:coins". Zotero Documentation. Retrieved 2023-03-11.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Hellman, Eric (2009-06-16) [2005]. "OpenURL COinS: A convention to embed bibliographic metadata in HTML" (1.0 ed.). OCLC New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2017-04-24.
* "Registry for the OpenURL Framework – ANSI/NISO Z39.88-2004". OCLC. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
* "OpenURL Syntax Description" (PDF). OCLC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
* "Matrix defining the KEV Format to represent a journal publication". January 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-02-11. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
* "Matrix defining the KEV Format to represent a book". January 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-02-11. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
* "Matrix defining the KEV Format to represent a patent". January 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
* "Matrix defining the KEV Format to represent a dissertation". January 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
* "Z39.88-2004: The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services The Key/Encoded-Value (KEV) Format Implementation Guidelines". June 2007. Archived from the original on 2022-12-23.
* "Z39.88-2004: The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services The Key/Encoded-Value (KEV) Format Implementation Guidelines, Appendices". June 2007. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28.
* "Z39.88-2004: The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services The Key/Encoded-Value (KEV) Format Implementation Guidelines, Examples". June 2007. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28.
* "Z39.88-2004: The OpenURL Framework for Context-Sensitive Services The Key/Encoded-Value (KEV) Format Implementation Guidelines" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-09-13.
* Apps, Ann; MacIntyre, Ross (May 2006). "Why OpenURL?". D-Lib Magazine. Vol. 12, no. 5\. hdl:10760/12168. ISSN 1082-9873.
* Apps, Ann; MacIntyre, Ross (2006-10-03). "Customising location of knowledge". 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). "Joining up "discovery to delivery" services". ELPUB 2008 International Conference on Electronic Publishing, Toronto (Canada), 25-27 June 2008. S2CID 10064180.
* Ashmore, Beth; Grogg, Jill E. (2006). "Google and OCLC open libraries on the Open Web". Searcher. 14 (10). Medford, New Jersey: Learned information: 44–53\. ISSN 1070-4795. Gale A154562387.
* Bailey, Annette; Back, Godmar (2008-02-29). "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" (PDF). In Yu, Holly; Breivold, Scott (eds.). Electronic resource management in libraries: Research and practice (PDF). 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.
* Chang, Sheau-Hwang (2007). "Full-text article linking: Where are we now?". Chinese Librarianship. 23 (2).
* Chudnov, Daniel; England, Deberah (2008-05-19). "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.1–2&rft.pages=63-69&rft.date=2008-05-19&rft_id=info:doi/10.1080/03615260801973448&rft.issn=0361-526X&rft.aulast=Chudnov&rft.aufirst=Daniel&rft.au=England,+Deberah&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:COinS" class="Z3988">
* Chudnov, Daniel (2005-10-24). "COinS browser extensions for your library". Yale School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 2007-02-08.
* 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 (2006-07-30). "Introducing unAPI". Ariadne (48). doi:10.7939/R3X921W05. hdl:1957/2359.
* Dempsey, Kathy (April 2007). "A dozen primers on important information standards". Computers in Libraries. 27 (4). Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc.: 11–23\. ISSN 1041-7915. ERIC EJ760290.
* 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.
* Donohue, Tim (2009-10-15). The BibApp extension: A campus research gateway and expert finder. DSpace User Group Meeting 2009. hdl: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. 12 (8). London: ASLIB: The Association for Information Management: 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.
* Lagace, Nettie; Chisman, Janet K. (2007-06-26). "How did we ever manage without the OpenURL?". The Serials Librarian. 52 (1–2): 211–222\. doi:10.1300/J123v52n01_17. ISSN 0361-526X.1–2&rft.pages=211-222&rft.date=2007-06-26&rft_id=info:doi/10.1300/J123v52n01_17&rft.issn=0361-526X&rft.aulast=Lagace&rft.aufirst=Nettie&rft.au=Chisman,+Janet+K.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:COinS" class="Z3988">
* MacIntyre, Ross (2006). OpenURL and COinS. SRU Implementors Group, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, March 3, 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-03-13. Abstract
* Min, Gao; Yuling, Jin; Weiling, Liu (2008). "The development and innovative uses of OpenURL research". Data Analysis and Knowledge Discovery (in Chinese). 24 (2): 87–90\. doi:10.11925/infotech.1003-3513.2008.02.16.
* "New & Noteworthy". Library Hi Tech News. 22 (8). 2005-09-01. doi:10.1108/lhtn.2005.23922hab.001. ISSN 0741-9058.
* O'Riordan, Adrian (2014-06-22). "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". Technically speaking. American Libraries. 36 (8): 78–79\. JSTOR 25649697.
* Page, Roderic D. M. (2010-09-21). "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. PMC 3129327. PMID 21605356.
* Palmer, James D. (2007-03-11). "Exploiting bibliographic web services with CiTeX". 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) 6400. ISSN 1940-5758.
* Tanner, Rene; Flitner, Debbie (2021-06-25). Building a library toolbar with LibX (PDF). Arizona State University.
* 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. 46 (7). ALA TechSource. 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.

## External links

[edit]

* OpenURL ContextObject in SPAN (COinS) at the Wayback Machine (archived 2017-04-24) "A Convention to Embed Bibliographic Metadata in HTML"
* KEV implementation guidelines at the Wayback Machine (archived 2018-11-20)
* Using COinS from Max Planck virtual Library at the Wayback Machine (archived 2018-03-02)
* What are COinS? at the Wayback Machine (archived 2010-06-26) – from Online Computer Library Center

* v
* t
* e

Semantic Web

Background|

* Databases
* Hypertext
* Internet
* Ontologies
* Semantics
* Semantic networks
* World Wide Web

Sub-topics|

* Dataspaces
* Hyperdata
* Linked data
* Rule-based systems

Applications|

* Semantic analytics
* Semantic computing
* Semantic mapper
* Semantic matching
* Semantic publishing
* Semantic reasoner
* Semantic search
* Semantic service-oriented architecture
* Semantic wiki
* Solid

Related topics|

* Collective intelligence
* Description logic
* Folksonomy
* Geotagging
* Information architecture
* iXBRL
* Knowledge extraction
* Knowledge management
* Knowledge representation and reasoning
* Library 2.0
* Digital library
* Digital humanities
* Metadata
* References
* Topic map
* Web 2.0
* Web engineering
* Web Science Trust

Standards|

| Syntax and supporting technologies|

* HTTP
* IRI
* URI
* RDF
* triples
* RDF/XML
* JSON-LD
* Turtle
* TriG
* Notation3
* N-Triples
* TriX (no W3C standard)
* RRID
* SPARQL
* XML
* Semantic HTML

|

Schemas, ontologies and rules|

* Common Logic
* OWL
* RDFS
* Rule Interchange Format
* Semantic Web Rule Language
* SHACL

Semantic annotation|

* COinS
* GRDDL
* Microdata
* Microformats
* RDFa
* SAWSDL
* Facebook Platform

Common vocabularies|

* BIBFRAME
* BIBO
* DOAP
* Dublin Core
* MODS/MADS
* FOAF
* Schema.org
* SIOC
* SKOS

Microformat vocabularies|

* hAtom
* hCalendar
* hCard
* hProduct
* hRecipe
* hReview

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template