RFC 3188 (rfc3188) - Page 1 of 13
Using National Bibliography Numbers as Uniform Resource Names
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group J. Hakala
Request for Comments: 3188 Helsinki University Library
Category: Informational October 2001
Using National Bibliography Numbers as
Uniform Resource Names
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2001). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
This document discusses how national bibliography numbers (persistent
and unique identifiers assigned by the national libraries) can be
supported within the URN (Uniform Resource Names) framework and the
syntax for URNs defined in RFC 2141. Much of the discussion is based
on the ideas expressed in RFC 2288.
1. Introduction
As part of the validation process for the development of URNs the
IETF working group agreed that it is important to demonstrate that
the current URN syntax proposal can accommodate existing identifiers
from well established namespaces. One such infrastructure for
assigning and managing names comes from the bibliographic community.
Bibliographic identifiers function as names for objects that exist
both in print and, increasingly, in electronic formats. RFC 2288
[Lynch] investigated the feasibility of using three identifiers
(ISBN, ISSN and SICI) as URNs.
This document will analyse the usage of national bibliography numbers
(NBNs) as URNs. The need to extend analysis to new identifier
systems was briefly discussed in RFC 2288 as well, with the following
summary: "The issues involved in supporting those additional
identifiers are anticipated to be broadly similar to those involved
in supporting ISBNs, ISSNs, and SICIs".
Hakala Informational
