Message-Id: <199602080625.AAA14879@library.wustl.edu> Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 16:20:50 +1000 From: Renato Iannella <mailto:renato@DSTC.EDU.AU> Subject: Re[5]: URLs To: Multiple recipients of list WEBCAT-L <mailto:WEBCAT-L@WUVMD.WUSTL.EDU>
"Peter Graham, RUL" <mailto:psgraham@GANDALF.RUTGERS.EDU> wrote: >
> 2) URNs, by definition, don't change; so there's not an issue as there is
> for URLs of "keeping track". However URNs aren't implemented yet, and PURLs
> are.
URNs have been implemented by a number of organisations. We have setup The URN Interoperability Project (TURNIP) to foster wider deployment. More details at:
http://www.dstc.edu.au/RDU/TURNIP/
There is also some technical info there on how URNs work.
Agreement on the syntax for URNs has been slowing down the process (in the IETF) - plus the fact that designing a unique naming system to last 'forever' is no easy task!
However, we believe that working with the library community - who have the content - would be a great way to get URNs deployed. (In the IETF world - deployment wins!)
We support the PURL effort from OCLC, and would like to see URNs become the standard way to identify resources (eventually).
The infrastructure to support URNs is minimal. In fact a few extra lines of code in Web Browsers is all that is needed. So, we need to also 'lobby' the Web Browser industry to add this support.
Cheers... Renato _______________________________________________________________________ Dr Renato Iannella http://www.dstc.edu.au/RDU/staff/ri Research Data Network CRC phone/fax: +61 7 3365 4310/11 DSTC Pty Ltd, Gehrmann Laboratories urn:dstc.edu.au:renato:home University of Queensland, 4072, AUSTRALIA email: mailto:renato@dstc.edu.au