What's in this article:

• How to deconstruct OpenURL links, including the JSTOR specific base

OpenURL definition via Wikipedia:

"OpenURL is a standardized format for encoding a description of a resource within a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), intended to help Internet users to find a copy of the resource that they are allowed to access. Although OpenURL could be used with any kind of resource on the Internet, it is usually used by libraries to help connect patrons with such content as articles, books, or patents held in their collections or available by subscription." 

Anatomy of an OpenURL link:

Base URL for JSTOR: www.jstor.org/openurl?

Supported OpenURL v0.1 parameters:

title- Book/Journal title

aulast- author last name

aufirst - author firstname

volume- This is applicable for article

issue- This is applicable for article<

spage- start page

issn - journal

isbn - book

date - Publication date (YYYY or YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD)

id=doi:XXXX - DOI (where XXXX is the ID value)

Supported OpenURL v1.0 parameters:

rft_id=info:doi - identifier

Sample OpenURL link to journal article:

www.jstor.org/openurl?issn=00314587&volume=9&issue=3&spage=339

Sample OpenURL link to book:

www.jstor.org/openurl?isbn=978-0-8166-6469-6