A reference-linking project, "CrossRef". From information retrieval to information linking.

Abstract

Twelve leading publishers in the US and Europe agreed in November 1999 to build a system where users of electronic journals would be able to navigate articles in participating journals by clicking references. Based on the agreement, a system named CrossRef was developed, and 36 publishers including major academic societies such as the American Chemical Society have joined CrossRef as of June 2000. About 2,700 journals from ten publishers are already thus linkable. CrossRef uses the digital object identifier (DOI) for article URLs. Discusses the CrossRef mechanism, fees, and impact on the traditional information industry, as well as related issues.