How To Persist a Persistent Identifier?

Many French archival services use persistent identifiers to facilitate access to archives. However, few studies have addressed the sustainability of these identifiers. This can raise questions when these identifiers are employed to identify digital archives preserved in digital repositories.
The Vitam program, which develops the Vitam digital recordkeeping software on behalf of the French government, carried out a study in collaboration with the Vitam user community in 2021. The goal was to improve knowledge of the use of persistent identifiers, particularly ARK identifiers, as well as their lifecycle and the requirements regarding their sustainability. The study also aimed to define the features required in the Vitam software to guarantee a long-term preservation of this type of identifier, whatever happens. Finally, it also made sure that their use could be adapted to different user contexts.