In a linked data research ecosystem it is critical that researchers can reliably reference their objects of study, certainly in citations, but also for purposes of annotation, interpretation, and critical analysis. These objects of study are often digital assets – serials, monographs, maps, images, and documents -- that are held in library and archival collections. It is still all too often the case that these object URIs change during technical upgrades and platform migrations, effectively severing the scholarly chain of evidence. Although there are a variety of means by which GLAM institutions can ensure persistently resolvable identifiers for their digital collections, progress in applying these links has been slow and uneven.  

In this short presentation we will explore the progress that libraries and archives have (and haven’t!) made in assigning persistent links to research objects. We will compare features of, and use cases for, the main types of object identifiers, including Datacite DOIs, Crossref DOIs, Handles, and ARKs. We will consider the work involved in creating the appropriate metadata crosswalks, APIs, staff procedures, and institutional policies for creating and managing persistent identifiers (PIDs) across the whole lifecycle, including the creation and maintenance of tombstones -- informational webpages to which a link will resolve when an object has been removed. 

1. academic libraries
2. digital humanities
3. linked open data
4. persistent identifiers