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Open Name Services names.oclc.org Keith Shafer Office of Research
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
