The Library offers a DOI service which provides for the registration and use of persistent interoperable identifiers called DOIs. The use of DOIs ensures that your publications and other research outputs are accurately attributed and easily tracked for bibliometrics. On receipt of a request for a DOI the Library creates or ‘mints’ a DOI using the DataCite service. DOIs can be created individually on an ad-hoc basis for any digital resource available online or integrated into other campus services provided centrally or by researchers.
What is DOI service?
A DOI service provides for the registration and use of persistent interoperable identifiers called DOIs.
What is a DOI?
A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned by a registration agency to identify content and provide a persistent link to its location on the Internet. It is used to give a digital object a unique designation and is comparable to an ISBN.
Why use a DOI?
DOIs identify content permanently. They are coupled with metadata and can be modified over time to keep track of the locations and characteristics of the objects they identify. They facilitate accurate attribution and bibliometrics tracking. They are assigned by authorised agencies or institutions and their use indicates that a dataset is well managed and accessible for long-term use.
How does the Library provide a DOI service?
The Library is part of a National Consortium for DOI services which is administered by UCD Library and subscribes to DataCite, a leading global non-profit organisation that provides persistent identifiers (DOIs) for research data and other research outputs. This enables it to request new persistent identifiers for service users. DataCite makes it easy to create and manage unique, long-term identifiers. DOIs created or ‘minted’ in this way are registered with the International DOI Foundation (IDF). The directory of the International DOI Foundation (IDF) points associated web addresses to the landing page.In this way the author or content creator establishes a permanent link to the object created. When the object is cited by others, even if is moved to a new location, the citation reference will always work, as long as the metadata is updated.
The DataCite service enables:
- Creation of identifiers for anything: texts, data
- Storage of citation metadata for identifiers in a variety of formats
- Updating of current URL locations so citation links are never broken
Who regulates DOIs?
The International DOI Foundation governs DOIs and regulates them to an ISO standard. Registration Agencies like DataCite or CrossRef make up the foundation and provide the structure supporting DOIs. Allocation Agents, who are members of Registration Agencies, manage assigning DOIs to objects.
Further information about the International DOI Foundation is available athttp://www.doi.org/index.html
The DOI® Handbook is available at http://www.doi.org/hb.html
Information about the ISO 26324:2012 Information and Documentation – Digital Object Identifier System is available at http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=43506
How do DOIs work?
A data centre links a DOI with the web address (URL) of a dataset. If a data centre moves or changes the address of the dataset, it must also update the DOI with the new address so that it still points users to the same data in its new location.
What information is required to create a DOI?
- Location (URL) for the landing page that the DOI will resolve to when a user clicks on the DOI
- Creator
- Title
- Publisher
- Publication Year
- Resource Type
Where can I learn more about DOIs?
Further information about the DatCite is available at https://datacite.org/
See also Horton, Laurence (2015) ‘Digital Object Identifiers: Stability for citations and referencing, but not proxies for quality’ LSE The Impact Blog, 23 Apr.