Northeastern University Library Answers: University Library FAQ

A DOI is a digital object identifier.  It's a unique number given to a digital work, such as a scholarly article or dissertation, to ensure stable linking and identification in perpetuity.

DOIs are assigned to Northeastern theses and dissertations after they are deposited in the Digital Repository System. First, a "handle" is assigned which can be used as a stable URL.  It has a number starting with a letter "d" prefix:

http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d20002703

That number will be used when the DOI is assigned:

10.17760/d20002703

That number becomes part of this stable and more recognizable URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.17760/d20002703

Library staff are currently working through a backlog of DOI assignments, so it may take some time to see the DOI appear. If you need a DOI assigned, please send an email to Library-Repository-Team[@]northeastern.edu to submit a request for a DOI.