OAI-PMH

Date added 20 November 2006
Last edited 17 November 2009

Full Title

Open Archive Initiative - Protocol for Metadata Harvesting

Description

The aim of the Open Archives Initiative is to build an interoperability framework for digital archives/institutional repositories in order to encourage scholarly communication.

Within the OAI system each archive is assigned a unique archive identifier, records within the archive are assigned persistent unique record identifiers and so the combination ensures relevant document(s)are identified.

The protocol uses XML to record metadata that distinguishes between data providers who represent the creators, and service providers who meet the requirements of end users. Essentially, the protocol means that OAI databases can interact with each other and other software agents. The metadata formed can be based on the Dublin Core metadata set or alternative forms, for example, MARC library records.

OAI-PMH is HTTP based with XML responses and uses the unqualified Dublin Core set, it is Web-friendly, and therefore firewall friendly.

Standards Developing Organisation

OAI

Open Archives Initiative

Rights

No information available.

Lifecycle Action

Access, Use and Reuse

Standard Frameworks

Digital Archive Standards

Digital Repository Standards

Standard Type

Interoperability Protocols

Current Version

14 June 2002 - The Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting, version 2.0 [external]

Further Information

Wikipedia entry for OAI-PMH [external]

OAI for Beginners: Overview

Alternative Current Versions

None.

Previous Versions

Referenced Standards