2018 Charleston Library Conference

ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is an is an open, non-profit, community-driven initiative to create and maintain a global registry of unique identifiers for individual researchers. ORCID provides a framework for trustworthy identity management by linking research contributions and related activities across the scholarly communication ecosystem, with benefits for both individuals and organizations such as research institutions, publishers, government agencies, and funders. Individuals can obtain a unique ORCID iD for free, which serves as a digital identifier distinguishing individual researchers from other researchers and enabling them to manage their records. To reap the full benefits of ORCID, organizations need to become ORCID members and integrate ORCID into digital platforms and workflows to reduce administrative burden and connect ORCID iD records with institutional repositories, publishing platforms, identity management systems, grant applications, and more.

In January 2018, four US consortia (GWLA, NERL, BTAA, and LYRASIS), came together to form the ORCID US Community, providing premium consortium ORCID membership for institutions at a highly discounted rate, as well as dedicated technical and community support for members. With over 95 institutional members currently taking advantage of this national consortial approach to ORCID in the US, and increasing adoption of ORCID by publishers, funders, and other organizations worldwide, we are at the cusp of a paradigm shift from repetitive print-based workflows to fully harnessing the power and advantages of the digital age in the research and scholarly communication landscape. This presentation will cover the basics and benefits of ORCID for both individuals and organizations, as well as the benefits of institutional ORCID membership via the ORCID US Community. Attendees will learn about best practices, strategies, and recommended resources for working with ORCID, with time for discussion and Q&A.