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Linking references is different from registering references

Anna Tolwinska – 2018 May 30

In ReferencesReference LinkingCited-ByCitationLinking

From time to time we get questions from members asking what the difference is between reference linking and registering references as part the Content Registration process.

Here’s the distinction:

Linking out to other articles from your reference lists is a key part of being a Crossref members - it’s an obligation in the membership agreement and it levels the playing field when all members link their references to one another.

Registering references when you register your content is completely different. It’s enriching the metadata record that describes your content, and it allows Crossref and others—including non-members—to use them.

Reference Linking

A research article usually includes a reference list of citations to other works that helped inform it. The original function of Crossref was to provide a central service for publishers that enabled them to link to each others’ content from these reference lists—using a DOI as a persistent link. This meant that members of all sizes and in all disciplines could easily link to one another without having to sign hundreds of bilateral agreements.

We made Reference Linking obligatory for Crossref members because it’s fundamental to making content discoverable, and because when everyone links their references, research travels further and benefits everyone.

Registering references

Every single day hundreds of members register and update their metadata with us—and every single day hundreds of organizations search for, extract and use it. To make sure your content is discovered in this process, it’s important to make the metadata you register with us as rich as possible. Rich metadata includes information such as journal title, article author, publication date, page numbers, ISSN, abstracts, ORCID iDs, funding information, clinical trials numbers, license information, and of course—references.

Additionally, registering references is a prerequisite recommended for participating in our Cited-by service—which provides citation counts and lists, and ultimately makes your content more discoverable. [EDIT 7th February 2024 - it is no longer required but highly recommended.]

We know it’s not easy for smaller publishers to deposit references. Read more on how to here. Our upcoming Metadata Manager tool will allow you to register your references at the same time as the rest of your content. This service is currently in development but let us know if you want to try it out. [EDIT 7th February 2024 - Metadata Manager has been deprecated. More info about it here.]

If you have any questions about reference linking or registering your references please get in touch.