Emerging Trends in OAI-PMH Application

Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH) provides an application-independent interoperability framework based on metadata harvesting. It is an effective way of sharing metadata between gateway services. The chapter gives an overview of Open Archives Initiative and underscores development, structure, and basic working of OAIPMH for harvesting procedures. It also traces the emerging trends in the use of Open Archive Initiative-Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH) by open access repositories to support interoperability among globally distributed information systems. The study was carried out by consulting the database of Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR), which is an authoritative directory of academic open access repositories. The study observed growth in the use and application of OAI-PMH protocol by OA repositories at a global level. Growth in the number of OAI-PMH complaint repositories provides an ample justification for its distinction among varied protocols to be utilized for resource sharing in knowledge society. However, developing and underdeveloped nations need to be made aware of the benefits of utilizing the harvesting capabilities of this protocol. The study provides an opportunity to understand the astounding growing trends in the use of the protocol in different setups.