What are Persistent Identifiers (PIDs)?
Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) are unique and permanent digital references that make it possible to find, access, reuse, and cite digital information objects of any type on the web. Unlike URLs, PIDs services allow you to update the location of the digital object so that the identifier can consistently resolve correctly without breaking. Examples of PIDs include, but are not limited to Digital Object Identifier (DOI), Archival Resource Key (ARK), and Handle (HDL). Check this handout for more information about persistent identifiers.
How can you get a PID?
Learn more about Perma.cc and request a free account here.
The UCSB Library subscribes to EZID, a University of California Curation Center (UC3) service to create and manage long-term identifiers (DOIs or ARKs). Under specific conditions and special cases, RDS can help research units and departments on campus to set up an account to mint and manage persistent identifiers on a regular basis. Contact us for more information and assistance: rds@library.ucsb.edu
