Persistent Identifiers: Digital Object Identifiers

A DOI is a persistent, unique digital identifier associated with an object, which contains metadata that makes the object easier to find. DOIs create a link to the content’s location on the internet, so that the DOI will always point to the correct unique object. UW Libraries uses the DataCite service to provide DOIs to UW-affiliated researchers.

*** If you're ready to request a DOI, fill out the DOI form. ***
If you have more than 5 DOIs to be requested, please contact uwlib-data@uw.edu about batch upload.

What can I get a DOI for?

DOIs are appropriate for material that is:

UNIQUE: The content for which the DOI is being requested must not have previously received a DOI.

STATIC: The content is final and static. Major updates or new versions can be assigned new DOIs rather than replacing the existing content. Continually updating datasets, for example, are not appropriate candidates for a DOI; instead, you should create a snapshot in time.

FINDABLE:

• DOIs must resolve to a landing page that follows DataCite best practices, rather than the content itself.
• The landing page’s URL should be a permalink, meaning maintainable into the future and unlikely to change with any website redesign or change in staffing.
• The landing page should include descriptive metadata about the content.

What if my content is unique and static, but my URL isn't appropriate?

UW Libraries offers a number of DOI-appropriate options for hosting materials online:

• Dryad for data
• ResearchWorks for written materials and other files
• Contact us at uwlib-data@uw.edu if neither of these feel appropriate!

Before you get started, look at the example DOI on the bottom of this page to get an idea of how the information you provide for your DOI will appear. Working through the following steps will ensure that the DOI registration for your content follows the best practices set out by DataCite.

Step 1: Ensure that an identical version of the content has not already been published elsewhere and been given a DOI.

Step 2: Prepare information about the resource(s)

• Information we need from you to create a DOI:

  • URL: publicly accessible landing page for your content; see Step 3 for further information about best practices for a landing page

  • Creator(s): authors of the object (anyone who should appear in the citation), see the multiple author example

  • Title: Title of project/object

  • Publisher: The name of the entity that holds, archives, publishes prints, distributes, releases, issues, or produces the resource. This property will be used to formulate the citation, so consider the prominence of the role.

  • Publication Year: The year when the data was or will be made publicly available.

  • Resource Type: Text, Dataset, Image, etc

  • Description (optional): All additional information that does not fit in any of the other categories, including an abstract

Step 3:  Verify that URL points to an active landing page that meets DataCite's best practices for DOI landing pages.

• A suitable landing page should have the following characteristics:
  • Contains metadata about the item for which the DOI is being registered
  • Should not resolve to the item itself
  • Contains a full bibliographic citation
  • Provides a way to access the item like a link to download.
  • Will be maintainable into the future and is unlikely to change with any website redesign or a change in staffing

If the object is embargoed or not yet published (for example if a publisher needs a DOI before publishing) contact uwlib-data@uw.edu.

Step 4: Input gathered information into the DOI request form

Step 5: You will receive the DOI(s) via email

Once the DOI has been registered, the landing page should display the DOI, and the DOI should be tagged to be machine readable. If you have other questions about acquiring a DOI, contact Research Data Services.

Multiple Author Example:

DOI: 10.6069/M12V-M513

Information input:

• URL: https://panoramaweb.org/baker-ims.url

• Creator(s): MacLean, Brendan X.; Pratt, Brian S.; Egertson Jarrett D.; MacCoss, Michael J.; Smith, Richard D.; Baker, Erin S.

• Title: Using Skyline to Analyze Data-Containing Liquid Chromatography, Ion Mobility Spectrometry, and Mass Spectrometry Dimensions. Journal of The American Society for Mass Spectrometry

• Publisher: Panorama Public (https://panoramaweb.org/public.url)

• Publication Year: 2018

• Resource Type (Text, Dataset, Image, etc): Dataset

• Description (optional):

• Citation (APA format): MacLean, B. X., Pratt, B. S., Egertson, J. D., MacCoss, M. J., Smith, R. D., & Baker, E. S. Using Skyline to Analyze Data-Containing Liquid Chromatography, Ion Mobility Spectrometry, and Mass Spectrometry Dimensions. Journal of The American Society for Mass Spectrometry . Panorama Public (https://panoramaweb.org/public.url). https://doi.org/10.6069/M12V-M513

• If you would like to see the DOI in other citation formats, input the DOI into CrossCite