About ARKs

What are Archival Resource Keys (ARKs)?

An Archival Resource Key (ARK) is a type of persistent identifier (PID) designed to give long-term, reliable access to digital objects. Unlike ordinary web addresses (URLs), which can “break” when websites move or change, ARKs are designed to stay stable.

When you see an ARK, it guarantees:

  • A permanent identifier that always points to the resource.

  • The ability to resolve to either the resource itself or its metadata description.

  • A format that is easy to understand and share, e.g.
    https://ark.ngren.edu.ng/ark:/99999/ngren.001

Why ARKs are Ideal for Research and Education

  • Longevity: ARKs were designed for archives, libraries, and research data — ensuring materials remain accessible far into the future.

  • Flexibility: Works for many resource types (not just publications).

  • Transparency: ARKs are open, non-proprietary, and widely used by research infrastructures globally.

  • Sovereign, local stewardship: Institutions can manage their own “shoulders” (sub-namespaces) while still being part of the larger NgREN ecosystem.
  • Low barrier: ARKs are open and widely adopted in libraries and archives.

What does an ARK look like?
ark:/NAAN/Name[Qualifier]

  • NAAN: Name Assigning Authority Number (assigned to an organization)
  • Name: A locally assigned string under that NAAN
  • Qualifier (optional): Points to a part, version, or service

Persistence and resolution

  • NgREN operates a resolver service that redirects ark:/… links to the current resource location.
  • If a URL changes, the ARK remains the same; only the target in our resolver is updated.

Interoperability

  • ARKs complement other identifiers: ORCID (people), ROR (institutions), and DOIs (datasets/publications).
  • Our aim is to connect PIDs across systems to strengthen discovery and attribution.

Example Use Cases in NgREN Community:

  • A university library assigns ARKs to digitized theses.

  • A research institute uses ARKs for datasets supporting published papers.

  • A national project archives reports and official documents with ARKs for credibility and stability.

Contact
Questions about ARKs at NgREN? → Contact us

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