Archivesaddress

Archivesaddress is a term used in archival informatics to denote the locator or address of an archived resource within a repository, catalog, or network. It refers to the information that enables users and systems to locate and access a digital or physical archival item, and it may take several forms depending on the system, such as a uniform resource identifier, a persistent identifier, or a filesystem path.

In practice, archivesaddress distinguishes between the logical address of a resource in a catalog or metadata record and the physical location where the item is stored. The logical address is what users see in a finding aid or metadata entry, while the physical location points to the storage media or server path. A well-designed archivesaddress is stable and dereferenceable, often relying on persistent identifiers to mitigate the effects of relocation or infrastructure changes.

Common implementations emphasize the use of persistent identifiers such as ARKs, DOIs, or Handles, along with resolvable URLs or URI schemes. Metadata standards used in archives often include fields or structures to record the archivesaddress, linking metadata to the digital object and its access protocols. Good practices include maintaining redirection when resources move, separate management of the address from the content, and incorporating versioning to track changes over time.

Challenges associated with archivesaddress include link rot, access restrictions, and the need for coherent policy across multiple storage systems. Proper management supports reliable retrieval, citation, and long-term preservation of archival materials. See also persistent identifiers, URI, OAIS, METS, PREMIS, digital preservation.