Persistent Identifiers

Posted by Ann Madhavan on August 9th, 2017 Posted in: Data Science, Technology

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Have your researchers or other patrons ever asked you how to create a “permanent,” persistent, or long-lasting  link to a webpage, data set, article, file, dissertation, or even a physical object? While there are several online options, two tools/services used by the University of Washington Libraries are listed below.

Perma.cc is a free, online tool built by Harvard’s Library Innovation Lab and supported by libraries and institutions across the country. It allows users to create a link to online content, such as a webpage, that will always be accessible, regardless of what happens to the original source. No more link rot! For more information on how Perm.cc works, visit their User Guide. A free account will allow users to preserve up to 10 records per month; however, to preserve unlimited records, libraries must be a member of an archiving organization sponsored by a registrar. For more details on how to become a registrar, visit Perma.cc for Libraries.

EZID (easy-eye-dee) is a subscription based online service provided by the California Digital Library (CDL). It allows users to create and manage unique and persistent identifiers for anything from text to data to physical objects.  For a demonstration of how EZID works, a list of their annual subscription fees, or a list of current CDL clients, visit Learn About EZID.