Session 3G | Persistent Identifiers: Using Archival Resource Keys (ARKs) to keep it all together

"Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) are foundational elements in the overall research information infrastructure. They facilitate high quality and persistent identification and are a critical component to providing long-term access and stewardship of digital objects. PIDs require a sustainable community around standards that build assured trust and permanence. PIDs are only as persistent as the organizations that provide and support them. When choosing a PID scheme, there needs to be a defined commitment to maintain the persistence of the resolution service – either by the organization hosting the digital resource, a trusted third party, or a combination of the two. The approach will depend on a number of factors to consider and involves multiple stakeholders for implementation.

In this session, we will discuss initiatives at the University of North Texas, University of Houston, and Texas State University covering different stages in implementation of Archival Resource Keys (ARKs). The discussion will also include an update on the ARK Alliance and ongoing work in sustainability and progress with technical specifications and related tools. Finally, an opportunity for attendees to share their experiences with PID implementation or ask any questions they may have about the process will be provided.