A distributed registry for OpenURL Metadata Schemas with an OAI-PMH conformant central repository

This paper describes a distributed registry of XML Schemas in which a central facility uses the Open Archives Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH) as a communication mechanism between registrars and parties that need to remain up-to-date regarding registration, updating and deregistration of those Schemas. This novel application of the OAI-PMH is described in the context of registration of XML Schema for usage in OpenURL applications. It suggests the applicability of the protocol in areas that go well beyond resource discovery, and that may actually reach into the realm of synchronization of administrative networked processes, and digital preservation.