5. Updating a URN

URNs are intended to be permanent identifiers for a resource. If a resource's URL changes due to a change in location or access method, the URL that is mapped to the URN must also be changed, but the URN itself remains the same. If a resource is ephemeral and becomes inaccessible at some point in time, the status of its URN should be changed but the identifier itself should not be reassigned.

Using NRS Web Admin, you can change a persistent identifier's associated URL as well as the status of the persistent identifier or the URL.

URNs associated with digital objects stored and delivered through Harvard Library infrastructure are usually maintained programmatically by LTS. Persistent identifiers created for web resources outside of Harvard Library infrastructure must be maintained by the organization that created persistent identifiers.

After getting an NRS Admin account log into the NRS Web Admin:

• Production: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL:nrs-admin
• QA: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL:nrs-admin-qa

The easiest way to get to the edit page for the URN is to use the Quick Search page. Click on the 'Quick' link next to the 'Advanced' link on the right side of the search page.

The opening page of NRS Web Admin is the URN Advanced search screen. If you don't have the complete URN information, the Advanced search screen provides options for narrowing your search.

To search in a specific Naming Authority, start typing the Naming Authority search box.  You should see suggestions of matching Naming Authorities appear as you type.

You can also search for a URN by using only the Resource Name without the Naming Authority. For instance, If  you were looking for a HUL.ERESOURCE:TEST_THIS, where 'TEST_THIS' is the Resource Name, you could enter TEST into the Resource Name field to find it. Asterisks work for wildcard searches in both the beginning and end of a Resource Name.

From the Search Results, click on the Full URN text for the URN you want to edit. If the URN is just text without a link, then your permissions are not set to edit URNs in that Naming Authority.  Contact your local NRS liaison to request the necessary permissions.

On the Edit URN page, you can update the URL or deactivate the URN. Click on 'UPDATE' to save the change.