# DOIs and ISBNs

**Source**: https://www.library.sydney.edu.au/support/publishing/making-your-research-findable/dois-and-isbns
**Parent**: https://www.library.sydney.edu.au/about/library-glossary

## Persistent identifiers

A Persistent Identifier (PID) is a unique code consisting of a string of letters and numbers used to identify objects, people, or concepts. Examples include Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs). Researchers can also have a persistent identifier, such as an [Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)](https://orcid.org/).

## DOIs

DOIs are persistent unique digital identifiers assigned to objects, such as research outputs like publications or datasets. A DOI is permanent and cannot be removed, but you can remove the public right to access the resource.

- A DOI provides a persistent link to your work, even if its location on the internet changes over time. This helps others to locate and cite your work.
- Digital tools like [Altmetric Explorer](https://sydney.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61USYD_INST/1c0ug48/alma991032074486105106) use DOIs and other persistent identifiers to track research outputs and see how often they have been accessed, cited, or discussed.
- You can use a DOI to manage your work in various scholarly systems (e.g. populating your ORCID profile and importing your record into the ARC’s Research Data Management System).
- DOIs are exclusively issued by registered agencies, and you need to comply with the agency’s requirements to get a DOI for your work. It is not possible to self-register a DOI for an item made available only on your own website.
- The [Australian Research Data Commons (](https://ardc.edu.au/services/ardc-identifier-services/)ARDC) is able to mint DOIs for Australian research data.
- Publishers often assign a DOI to books, scholarly articles and datasets when they are published and made available electronically.

### Getting a DOI

The University of Sydney Library can provide [DOIs](https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/pages/guidelines#DOIs:~:text=of%20the%20item.-,Digital%20Object%20Identifiers%20(DOIs),-The%20University%20of) for some non-published materials.

- [**Sydney eScholarship repository**](https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/pages/guidelines)**-**An open repository that provides global access to University of Sydney research. [Guidelines for DOI criteria can be found here](https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/pages/guidelines#DOIs:~:text=of%20the%20item.-,Digital%20Object%20Identifiers%20(DOIs),-The%20University%20of).

Some other repositories can also provide DOIs, including:

- [**Zenodo**](https://zenodo.org/)**-**An open repository with free uploads up to 50GB. All uploaded work is eligible for a DOI.

- [**Figshare**](https://figshare.com/)**-**An open repository with free uploads up to 5GB. All uploaded work is eligible for a DOI.

- [**F1000 Research**](https://f1000research.com/)**-**An open research publishing platform for researchers in all subject areas. All uploaded slides and posters are eligible for a DOI.

- [**Open Science Framework**](https://osf.io/)**-**A free open platform for research collaboration and sharing. Public research is eligible for a DOI.
- [**ResearchGate**](https://www.researchgate.net/)**-**An open source of free scholarly articles. DOIs can be generated for eligible uploads.
- [**LabArchives eNotebooks**](https://au-auth-service.labarchives.com/?akid=&expires=&sig=&xapp=&siteID=&siteId=&entityID=)**-**An Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN) for safely storing research data. If you use a LabArchives eNotebook, you can make it available to the public by creating a DOI through the LabArchives system.

## ISBNs

ISBNs are persistent identifiers for books. They are used internationally across the book trade and library sector.

An ISBN:

- is internationally applied and recognised
- is required by most retailers
- improves the likelihood your book will be found and purchased
- links to essential information about your book
- enables more efficient marketing and distribution of your book
- helps you collect and analyse book sales data.

An ISBN is not mandatory and does not provide copyright on a work. Publishers purchase or receive ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency.

- ## Related information

  [Researcher profiles](https://library.sydney.edu.au/support/publishing/researcher-profiles.html)
  [Open Access](https://library.sydney.edu.au/support/publishing/open-access.html)
  [Creative commons licensing](https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/cclicenses/)

- ## Contact

  For more information on DOIs please email [ses.admin@sydney.edu.au](mailto:ses.admin@sydney.edu.au).

  For information about ISBNs, please contact [Sydney University Press](https://sydneyuniversitypress.com.au/).