A Digital Object Identifier, or DOI, is a unique identifier assigned to digital content so that it can be consistently and accurately referenced. It is similar to a URL in that it serves as a hyperlink, however DOIs are far more permanent and persistent. Each DOI has metadata associated with it, including its location (URL), subject, publisher, and creator; even if this metadata changes, the actual DOI will never change. This persistence makes DOIs an ideal format for citing content as it ensures findability and accessibility.

DOIs can additionally be easily tracked to better inform us about the use of content and the conversations surrounding particular resources. A network of related resources grows every time a DOI is used, allowing users to easily find associated datasets and research outputs. The use of DOIs ultimately improves research workflows and enhances the visibility of projects.

The ADS creates DOIs for:

• All our deposited collections in the ADS Archives
• Upon request, specific objects within a collection
• All unpublished reports uploaded via OASIS
• Journal articles and other publications in the ADS Library

Benefits

• Persistent Access: Ensures reliable access, reducing broken links and keeping content available.
• Attribution: Enables easy, standardised citation for the proper referencing of a digital object.
• Enhanced discoverability: Improves our ability to find publications and datasets.
• Analytics: Helps track usage and offers insights into the impact of digital content.
• Interlinking resources: Connects related resources, creating associations between digital content.
• Consistency: Provides a standardised identification method, promoting consistency across data types.
• Accessibility: Recognised globally, supporting collaboration and information exchange worldwide.

How to Cite

This is a typical example of a DOI found in the ADS Archives: Jeffrey, S., Hale, A., Jones, C., Maxwell, M., and Jones, S. (2017). ACCORD: Archaeology Community Co-production of Research Data [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor]. https://doi.org/10.5284/1042733

Each ADS archive lists its DOI beneath the title of the archive and within the Collection Metadata. Clicking the ‘How to cite using this DOI’ link at the top of the page will launch a useful widget to easily provide a Sample Citation using the DOI. This text can be copied and pasted for a straightforward way to properly cite an ADS archive.