# Re: URNs and Meta-Information - The Value of ISBN

David Robison (drobison@library.Berkeley.EDU)
Mon, 18 Oct 1993 10:48:47 -0700 (PDT)

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    Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1993 10:48:47 -0700 (PDT)

    From: David Robison <drobison@library.Berkeley.EDU>

    Subject: Re: URNs and Meta-Information - The Value of ISBN

    To: Dirk Herr-Hoyman <hoymand@joe.uwex.edu>

    In-Reply-To: <9310181253.AA07991@joe.uwex.edu>

    Message-Id: <Pine.3.05.9310181029.D4511-a100000@library.Berkeley.EDU>

As a Librarian and Internet Publisher, I see two potenetial problems
with the current URI plan (as far as I have been able to follow the
discussion). First, allowing the publisher to assign a single URI
to an object in its many formats obfuscates the fact that different
formats af a document (as well as different versions) have different
meaning. Second, allowing multiple naming authorities (ID Authorities)
the ability to name identical objects with different URIs seems to
contradict the purpose of the URI in the first place. If "U" stands
for Uniform, then a particular object, in all of its instances, should
have the same URI.

Or am I missing something?

David F. W. Robison Internet: drobison@library.berkeley.edu
Editor, Current Cites Bitnet: drobison@ucblibra
Information Systems Instruction & Support Voice: (510)643-9494
UC Berkeley Library Fax: (510)643-7891
Berkeley, CA 94720

- Next message: Kevin Altis: "Re: URNs and authenticity"
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- In reply to: Dirk Herr-Hoyman: "Re: URNs and Meta-Information - The Value of ISBN"
- Next in thread: Chris Weider: "Re: URNs and Meta-Information - The Value of ISBN"