USGS & IGSNS: BENEFITS & BEST PRACTICES

What are International Generic Sample Numbers (IGSNs), and why should you register your samples with them? As scientific communities share more data and provide access to more physical samples, the need to make information about physical samples more FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) is increasingly important. An IGSN, as a unique, persistent identifier (PID) for a physical sample, helps to enable these principles. With the evolving partnership between DataCite and IGSN e.V., the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as part of a DataCite consortium, is assuming responsibility for minting IGSNs for the bureau. We plan to describe the current and planned procedures for obtaining IGSNs within USGS, along with requirements, best practices, additional benefits for registering samples with IGSNs, and the role of DataCite as the IGSN provider and repository. We will also discuss plans for and a preview of the forthcoming Asset Identifier Service (AIS), a USGS-developed tool for bureau scientists and data professionals to create and manage PIDs including IGSNs.