Open Name Servicesnames.oclc.org

Keith ShaferOffice of Research

Open Name Servicesnames.oclc.org

Keith ShaferOffice of Research

IntroductionIntroduction

Every object has a name

A URL is a pointer, not a name

Many naming efforts on the Web– URNs, PURLs, Handles, DOIs– Introduced new protocols– Did not separate names from services

“Old” Names“Old” Names

What about ISBN, ISSN, etc.?– Large number of existing names– Services: buy, borrow, cover image, …– Large investment in systems

Our ResearchOur Research

Bring standard names to the Web– provide services on those names– not a new name authority– not a large database of names

Trusted third party– service registering and profiling– user customization– authentication

How?How?

Embed name in a URL

URL has four parts:– Standard http:// portion– Name type– Optional service request– Actual name

http://… / NAME-TYPE / SERVICE / NAME

ExamplesExamples

http://names.oclc.org / isbn / title-author / ISBN#

http://names.oclc.org / isbn / title-author / 0-517-01505-6

Service Request is OptionalService Request is Optional

http://names.oclc.org / isbn / ISBN#

http://names.oclc.org / isbn / 0-13-603051-3

Complex RequestsComplex Requests

Service requests may be long or require parameters

Supporting OpenURL, a proposal that came out of the SFX research

SFX is now owned by Ex Libris– provides a customizable “what’s related” service

Managing RelationshipsManaging Relationships

Most services will be provided by external partners

Fosters building and maintaining relationships in and among OCLC members and external providers

Wrap-UpWrap-Up

Separate names and services

Requests simple enough to hand enter, complete enough for services like SFX

Hope that some OCLC services will soon be offered this way

Need community involvement