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The process of creating a persistent identifier is also known as "naming" a digital resource. The majority of persistent identifiers are created for digital objects when they are deposited into the Digital Repository (DRS). Objects already stored in the DRS can be named by using the DRS Web Admin. NRS has its own Admin interface that supports naming of objects inside or outside of DRS.
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What is name resolution?
Name resolution is the process of mapping a URN to a URL that retrieves the named resource; the URL locates the resource identified by the persistent identifier:
If a resource moves or changes the way it is accessed, the mapping between the resource's persistent identifier and URL can be updated; the persistent identifier remains unchanged and valid.
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Why use persistent identifiers?
In general, important resources should never be directly identified by a URL because URLs can become invalid if the resource is moved or if the way it is accessed changes. (This is the cause of the "404 File Not Found" browser error message. ) By adding a layer of indirection into the access process, persistent identifiers URNs will never become invalid. If a resource moves, only the URL to which the persistent identifier URN resolves needs to be updated; the identifier URN itself can remain unchanged. As long as persistent identifiers URNs are properly maintained within NRS, 404 errors should never occur when accessing named resourcesthey should always point to the intended resource.
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What resources should be named?
Digital objects intended for network delivery and accessed through OISLTS-supported delivery services, such as the Image Delivery Service (IDS) or Page Delivery Service (PDS), must be given persistent identifiers in NRS. Other objects, such as archival masters intended only for storage, can be given persistent identifiers if they meet the following criteria:
- The object represents a complete intellectual work, either an atomic work such as an image or a sound file, or an aggregate work such as a multi-page volume. In general, individual components of an aggregate work that have little or no contextual meaning separate from the aggregate, such as a single page of a volume, should not be given persistent identifiers.
- Web links to the object will be established and distributed.
- The object's location can be tracked and maintained reliably.
- The object possesses sufficient intellectual or curatorial value as to warrant the permanent maintenance of the persistent identifier.