Technical Summary
This specification updates the URN namespace
registration for National Bibliography Numbers
(NBNs), which are used intensively by several
European national libraries. The primary change
from RFC 3188 is the addition of support for URN
q-components and f-components as specified in
RFC 8141, the updated definition of URNs.
Working Group Summary
This specification was slated to be completed by
the URNBIS Working Group but was decoupled from WG
deliverables because of changes made to the URN
namespace registration process between RFC 3406
and RFC 8141 (i.e., IETF consensus is no longer
required for registration of formal namespaces, only
Expert Review). However, publication of this document
as an RFC will ensure that the updated definition of
NBN URNs is available in a stable specification that
obsoletes RFC 3188.
Document Quality
As noted, several national libraries in Europe have
implemented systems that support the NBN namespace
and have generated millions of URNs in the namespace.
This specification accurately documents the syntax and
management of the NBN namespace.
Personnel
The Document Shepherd is Peter Saint-Andre (co-author
of RFC 8141). The Responsible Area Director is Alexey
Melnikov.