A persistent identifier, commonly known as a PID, is a unique and permanent reference or identifier assigned to a digital object, such as a research article, dataset, or other scholarly outputs. The purpose of a persistent identifier is to ensure that the digital object can be consistently and reliably identified, accessed, and referenced over time, even if its location or metadata changes. Persistent identifiers play a crucial role in facilitating citation, linking, and referencing of digital objects, ensuring their long-term accessibility and discoverability. They enable researchers, publishers, and institutions to create reliable connections between scholarly works and facilitate proper attribution and citation practices.

Once assigned to a research output, a PID should be used in all communications about the output, including social media promotion, traditional scholarly communications and in institutional repositories such as the UWA Profiles and Research Repository. 

Learn more about common PIDs for publications and how to apply for them below.

What is an ISBN?
International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) are identifiers for books or book-like products. The UWA Library has been assigned a block of ISBNs by ISBN Australia for allocation to items published within UWA, by staff of the University.

How to apply for an ISBN?
To apply for an ISBN please complete this online ServiceNow form [log in with your UWA Uni ID credentials].

13-digit format
From 1 January 2007 all ISBNs must conform to the new 13-digit format. When existing publications that have a 10-digit ISBN are reprinted, they are required to use the corresponding 13-digit format of their origintal ISBN. Note, this is not a new ISBN, but the same ISBN with a prefix (978) added and a revised final checking digit. To obtain the 13-digit format for an ISBN which you were allocated prior to 2007, please complete this online ServiceNow form [log in with your UWA Uni ID credentials] and include your original ISBN in the "Comments" box.

Legal deposit
Items published within UWA are required by law to be deposited with the following collections:

• Legal Deposit Unit, National Library of Australia
• Battye Library, State Library of Western Australia
• Digital publications can be submitted via the National edeposit service

What is a DOI?
Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are unique and persistent identifiers for digital research objects such as datasets, software and grey literature including thesis. They also enable citation and tracking of citation metrics.

How to apply for a DOI?

The University Library currently mints DOIs through the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) minting service for research datasets and grey literature which have the UWA Profiles and Research Repository as the primary publisher. All DOIs will resolve back to the UWA Profiles and Research Repository record page.

• Datasets: You must upload your dataset to the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, see guidelines here. Once you have submitted the record, the DOI will be minted as part of the approval process.
• Reports: You must first upload your report to the UWA Profiles and Research Repository, see guidelines here. Then complete this online ServiceNow form [log in with your UWA Uni ID credentials] to request a DOI.
• Theses: Theses will get a DOI as part of the publication approval process in the UWA Profiles and Research Repository. More information on theses can be found here.

What is an ISSN?

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is a persistent identifier assigned to serial publications, such as journals, magazines, and newspapers. It helps in the identification and organization of serial publications, facilitating efficient access and retrieval.

How to apply for an ISSN

The Library does not allocate ISSNs. The Australian ISSN Agency provides information and application procedures for an ISSN.