Instructions for submitting online publications

The German National Library aims to make the submission of online publications as convenient as possible. This includes setting up and operating various submission interfaces and developing automatic harvesting procedures.

There are various submission methods: Web forms, which are primarily suited for the submission of smaller quantities or individual titles, and interfaces for automatic submission (OAI harvesting and hotfolder), which are appropriate for larger quantities.

Delivery via the web forms

1. Web form for submission of monographic online publications, university dissertations and theses and sheet music. These include all non-serial publications such as novels or academic papers plus the dissertations and post-doctoral theses of German universities.

Delivery of monographic online publications, university dissertations and theses and sheet music

2. Web form for delivery of periodical online publications. These include all serial publications such as e-journals, e-mail newsletters and annual publications.

Delivery of periodical online publications

Automatic submission procedures

The German National Library offers two automatic submission procedures: the harvesting and the hotfolder procedures. Metadata needs to be submitted alongside the objects themselves in both submission procedures. These procedures are currently only offered for monographs.

OAI harvesting
Automatic harvesting submission procedure (available only in German)

Hotfolder
Automatic hotfolder submission procedure (available only in German)

Information on the various submission procedures can be obtained from the relevant instructions.
Submission procedures

In all cases it is necessary to register as an online publication depositor.
Registration for the delivery of online publications

Rules for the delivery of online publications

• Only online publications which have actually been published can be delivered. This includes publications which are distributed exclusively by email (e. g. newsletters).
• The online publication delivered to the German National Library must be identical to the original publication on the submitter's server, in both its content and file format.
• To archive online publications on a long-term basis the German National Library accepts file formats on the basis of the Technical requirements.
• To ensure that the data can be preserved on a permanent basis, PDF files should not feature password or copy protection. Online publications in other file formats may not be password protected, either.
• No websites can be collected and digitally preserved as yet. The German National Library therefore requests that no delivery be made until the collection of such publications is made possible using other procedures, e. g. harvesting.
• Each of the monograph online publications archived by the German National Library, and each delivery for an online journal (issue or article) must be given a URN (Uniform Resource Name). This is automatically issued on delivery. However, you also have the possibility to apply for a sub-name domain, allowing you to issue and manage your URNs yourself. Further information can be found at http://www.persistent-identifier.de/ and in the nestor handbook.
• Cross-references within the publication must be made in the form of relative links. Links belonging to online publications should not be absolute.
• Magazines must be submitted at the issue or article level, i.e. the delivery should consist of a single magazine or issue of the publication, or as an article.
• Publications consisting of several files must be delivered in an archive file, including a start file. 

  Technical requirements

Publications:

Brodersen, Maren: Automatisiertes Abliefern von Netzpublikationen über Harvesting-Verfahren
In: Dialog mit Bibliotheken 21 (2009), H. 2, S. 16-18