In order to securely identify researchers with the same name, there are different identifiers: ISNI, IdRef, VIAF, ORCID, ResearcherID, idHAL…
What is IdRef?
“IdRef (Identifiants et Référentiels pour l’Enseignement supérieur et la Recherche) is a web application developed and maintained by ABES. IdRef allows users and third-party applications to query, consult, create and enrich authorities.”
IdRef is used in many databases (theses.fr, Persée, HAL…), thus promoting interoperability between platforms.
How to obtain an IdRef identifier?
The attribution of an IdRef number is automatic as soon as you have defended a thesis or appear in one of the ABES catalogues as an author.
Consult a bibliographic record
To consult a bibliographic record, simply search on the home page of the site. You can refine your search by using filters.
In the list of results, select the authority you are looking for. You will then have access to a record enriched with metadata from the SUDOC, Calames, theses.fr, the BNF, etc…
For example, here is an overview of the authority record “Joseph Fourier”:
Editing a record
IdRef is an application that is part of the web of data, allowing everyone to contribute to the enrichment of authority records. Indeed, an “Improve record” button is present above each record. Just click on it to open a data modification request form.
How to use the data?
The data is licensed under Etalab. Their use is free and open to all.
The IdRef website offers several services for sharing and reusing data: triple store, OAI-PMH warehouse, APIs, various export formats (to Zotero, Marc XML, RDF…).