We have added a new type of relationship for an individual user to create Perma Links under the umbrella of a Registrar.
As always, every user has their own Perma.cc account where they can log into their dashboard.
Each of these accounts has a “Personal Links” folder that is private to them. This folder is allocated ten “trial links” that can be made within it. Beyond that, a user either needs to have a personal subscription with Perma.cc or create links within a folder that is affiliated with a Registrar institution.
Current users are already familiar with two types of affiliation with a Registrar:
Registrar User = admin overseeing all accounts affiliated with the Registrar. They have the power to create Organizations, set policies, and grant Sponsorships. They can also see all links created within Organization folders and Sponsored Links folders (but not Personal Links folders.)
Organization User = account that is affiliated with an “Organization” created by a Registrar User. Organizations are like collaborative silos under the umbrella of a Registrar. Any account affiliated with any Organization can see all of the associated folders and Perma Links.
Now, there’s a third:
Sponsored User = account that has been granted “Sponsorship” to create links directly by a Registrar User. They have a special folder in their dashboard with no link limit that is only visible to themselves and the Registrar User.
Accounts can be both Sponsored Users and Organization users at the same time.
The use of Organizations and Organization Users work well when groups using Perma.cc for their work will continue regardless of the users associated with it. Good examples of this are: law journals, a professor who would like to collaborate with her RAs, or academic departments. When an individual is removed from an Organization, all of the links they created there will remain, but the individual does not have access to them.
The granting of Sponsorships works well when the individuals using Perma.cc are autonomous, and will benefit from access to their Perma Links after their affiliation with your Registrar ends. When a Registrar User removes a Sponsorship from a users account, this means that user will no longer be able to create new Perma Links in their Sponsored Links folder. However, both they and the Registrar User will still have view access to the folder.
Let us know what you think! We’re at info@perma.cc, happy to hear feedback or answer questions!