These are a few of the many tools that can help to simplify your research.
DOIs are persistent and unique identification numbers allocated to articles, books and/or book chapters that will help you find them online.
Unlike a URL, which points to one specific location online (where the content may change), DOIs point to a specific piece of work regardless of where it is located online or how many different places it is located online.
It is important to note that not all online resources will have a DOI as there is a fee involved with purchasing the DOI. Smaller publishing journals will often save money by not having a DOI assigned to their articles.
A DOI can usually be found on the front or last page of an article and will look like the below image.
To find an article via its DOI number you can use the guest query form located in Crossref.
You must use a service offered by a DOI Registration Agency (RA). You do not need to be a member of the International DOI Foundation in order to work with an RA.
The cost of registering new DOI names depends on the services you purchase. Contact a DOI Registration Agency to discuss your options. Each RA is different, and each is free to offer its own business model. The IDF does not determine the costs charged to end users. Existing DOI names can be resolved by users free of charge.
The IDF does not have any rules on this. Individual RAs adopt appropriate rules for their community and application. As a general rule, if the change is substantial and/or it is necessary to identify both the original and the changed material, assign a new DOI name.
Sometimes your professional body of work can be inadvertently split up because:
In these cases, and others, databases can mistakenly attribute your work as being by two different authors. What this means for you is a potential loss of credit for your hard work and research. Your H-index (how well you are doing as a published author) is affected adversely because not all your articles are being taken into account.
In essence, ORCID gives you a unique, digital, fingerprint that you can attach to all your work, making sure that it is always correctly assigned to you.
A PURL, or permalink, is a link that connects directly to an article or book within the TWU Libraries system. This is an easy way to share articles or books with classmates or professors, regardless if you are on campus, or accessing from a personal device.
Copied URLs will expire after the current browser session ends, or after a period of inactivity, while a permalink or PURL is continually accessible, provided the database is still available within the TWU Libraries system. Using a permalink will ensure access to the desired article or book without having to recreate the search.
PDF distribution without permission from the database or vendor is often a violation of the contractual agreements TWU Libraries has with our vendors and publishers. Permalinks ensure that only individuals with the correct logins can access the materials. It’s the same concept as piracy of other medias such as music or movies.
A DOI number is a unique number assigned to digital published objects, such as journal articles, with no attached affiliation. Permalinks or URLs have a university or institutional affiliation attached to them, allow students access when they use their TWU login.
Each database has a different layout, but look for terms such as “share article,” “persistent link,” “document link,” “get link,” etc. This will generate a permalink to share.
DOI numbers are usually found at the beginning or end of articles, along with the publishing information. This number can be copied and used to search within the database to recall the article.
