The who, what, when, where and why of DOIs for datasets.
Dewey is proud to introduce Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for every dataset listed on our platform. These persistent, unique identifiers make datasets easier to cite, track, and discover in academic research, publications, and data catalogs. Now, a researcher reviewing a study can immediately confirm which dataset was used, right down to the version, while a data librarian can export complete, DOI-linked metadata to enhance their institution’s collections.
As an early adopter of DataCite’s DOI infrastructure, Dewey is helping set the standard for accessible and transparent data practices.. This is a critical step forward for the broader open research ecosystem: where data is not just shared, but cited, trusted, and reused.
What Is a DOI?
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique and permanent alphanumeric string assigned to a digital object, such as a dataset, article, or report. It provides a stable, persistent link to that object, even if its location on the web changes. Just like scholarly papers are cited using DOIs, Dewey datasets now gets the same visibility and credibility.
That means:
- Researchers can accurately cite your data
- Data can be discovered through search engines and academic indexes
- You get long-term access and traceability, even if your storage changes
A Note on DataCite…
We’re thrilled to work with DataCite, the global leader in research data identifiers. DataCite’s mission is clear:
“To ensure that research outputs and resources are openly available and connected so that their reuse can advance knowledge across and between disciplines, now and in the future.”
Founded in 2009 as a nonprofit consortium, DataCite is the original and most widely adopted DOI registration agency focused specifically on research data. While other DOI providers cater to journals, books, or software, DataCite is purpose-built for datasets, supporting open infrastructure and metadata standards that make scholarly data shareable, discoverable, and interoperable.
Why Dataset DOIs (Not Just Paper DOIs)?
While DOIs have long been used for published papers, data has too often been left behind. That leads to researchers stretching the same old datasets to cover new questions, or worse, citing a paper without any way to access or verify the original data.
Assigning DOIs to datasets directly solves that gap. With dataset DOIs each dataset is individually identified and cited, not just buried in a supplemental appendix. You can track usage, citations, and impact across the research landscape and high-quality, lesser-known datasets can gain visibility and credit in scholarly communities.
In short, dataset DOIs are a key ingredient to unlocking reproducibility, accelerating discovery, and rewarding data creators.
Who Do DOIs Benefit?
Researchers
- Quickly verify if a published study used the same dataset you’re working with.
- Search and filter data by DOI across libraries, repositories, and citation indexes.
- Follow dataset versioning over time to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Has your research been recently published? Share with us!
Data Librarians
- Help faculty and students find the right data, faster.
- Export complete DOI-linked metadata into formats like MARC to streamline cataloging.
- Enhance your library’s data infrastructure with persistent, trusted links.
Are you a Data Librarian interested in updating your catalogue with these DOIs? Let’s connect!
Data Providers
- Receive credit when your data is used.
- Track mentions and citations across academia.
- Strengthen your reputation as a trusted, citable source of data.
Interested in getting your data on the Dewey platform? Reach out!
When and Where Can You Start Using DOIs?
Right now. As of today, every dataset in the Dewey Data platform is automatically assigned a DOI. We encourage users to include these DOIs in their citation for any active or past research!
Dewey has always been focused on making it easier to connect academia with high-quality, hard-to-find commercial datasets. With the addition of DOIs, we’re now making those connections more discoverable, reliable, and citable than ever before.