diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/epub_meta.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/epub_meta.rs
index 4488406..49b218b 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/epub_meta.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/epub_meta.rs
@@ -1,24 +1,27 @@
 use epub::doc::EpubDoc;
 use pile_config::Label;
-use std::{collections::HashMap, sync::OnceLock};
+use std::{
+	collections::HashMap,
+	sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+};
 use tracing::trace;
 
 use crate::{Item, PileValue, SyncReadBridge, extract::ObjectExtractor};
 
-pub struct EpubMetaExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct EpubMetaExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> EpubMetaExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl EpubMetaExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
@@ -61,13 +64,13 @@ impl<'a> EpubMetaExtractor<'a> {
 			}
 		};
 
-		let mut output: HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>> = HashMap::new();
+		let mut output: HashMap<Label, PileValue> = HashMap::new();
 
 		#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
 		for (key, val) in raw_meta {
 			let label = Label::new(key).unwrap();
 			let value = match val {
-				Some(s) => PileValue::String(s.into()),
+				Some(s) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(s.into())),
 				None => PileValue::Null,
 			};
 			output.insert(label, value);
@@ -78,12 +81,9 @@ impl<'a> EpubMetaExtractor<'a> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for EpubMetaExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for EpubMetaExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/epub_text.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/epub_text.rs
index 7997b90..5c47b15 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/epub_text.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/epub_text.rs
@@ -1,24 +1,27 @@
 use epub::doc::EpubDoc;
 use pile_config::Label;
-use std::{collections::HashMap, sync::OnceLock};
+use std::{
+	collections::HashMap,
+	sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+};
 use tracing::debug;
 
 use crate::{Item, PileValue, SyncReadBridge, extract::ObjectExtractor};
 
-pub struct EpubTextExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct EpubTextExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> EpubTextExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl EpubTextExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
@@ -61,7 +64,7 @@ impl<'a> EpubTextExtractor<'a> {
 		#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
 		let output = HashMap::from([(
 			Label::new("text").unwrap(),
-			PileValue::String(raw_text.into()),
+			PileValue::String(Arc::new(raw_text.into())),
 		)]);
 
 		let _ = self.output.set(output);
@@ -88,12 +91,9 @@ fn strip_html(html: &str) -> String {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for EpubTextExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for EpubTextExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/mod.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/mod.rs
index 599f93e..eb814d7 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/epub/mod.rs
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ use crate::{
 	extract::{MapExtractor, ObjectExtractor},
 };
 
-pub struct EpubExtractor<'a> {
-	inner: MapExtractor<'a>,
+pub struct EpubExtractor {
+	inner: MapExtractor,
 }
 
-impl<'a> EpubExtractor<'a> {
+impl EpubExtractor {
 	#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		let inner = MapExtractor {
 			inner: HashMap::from([
 				(
@@ -37,19 +37,8 @@ impl<'a> EpubExtractor<'a> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for EpubExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &pile_config::Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
-		if name.as_str() == "text" {
-			match self.inner.inner.get(name).unwrap() {
-				PileValue::ObjectExtractor(x) => return x.field(name).await,
-				_ => unreachable!(),
-			};
-		}
-
+impl ObjectExtractor for EpubExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &pile_config::Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		self.inner.field(name).await
 	}
 
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/exif.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/exif.rs
index 2e14468..fef16c1 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/exif.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/exif.rs
@@ -1,23 +1,27 @@
 use pile_config::Label;
-use std::{collections::HashMap, io::BufReader, sync::OnceLock};
+use std::{
+	collections::HashMap,
+	io::BufReader,
+	sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+};
 use tracing::debug;
 
 use crate::{Item, PileValue, SyncReadBridge, extract::ObjectExtractor};
 
-pub struct ExifExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct ExifExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> ExifExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl ExifExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
@@ -52,7 +56,7 @@ impl<'a> ExifExtractor<'a> {
 			}
 		};
 
-		let mut output: HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>> = HashMap::new();
+		let mut output: HashMap<Label, PileValue> = HashMap::new();
 
 		for (tag_name, value) in raw_fields {
 			let Some(label) = tag_to_label(&tag_name) else {
@@ -61,7 +65,7 @@ impl<'a> ExifExtractor<'a> {
 			// First occurrence wins (PRIMARY IFD comes before THUMBNAIL)
 			output
 				.entry(label)
-				.or_insert_with(|| PileValue::String(value.into()));
+				.or_insert_with(|| PileValue::String(Arc::new(value.into())));
 		}
 
 		return Ok(self.output.get_or_init(|| output));
@@ -78,12 +82,9 @@ fn tag_to_label(tag: &str) -> Option<Label> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for ExifExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for ExifExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/flac.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/flac.rs
index c961a69..531bc5f 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/flac.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/flac.rs
@@ -12,24 +12,16 @@ use crate::{
 	extract::{ListExtractor, ObjectExtractor},
 };
 
-pub struct FlacImagesExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<Vec<PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct FlacImagesExtractor {
+	item: Item,
 }
 
-impl<'a> FlacImagesExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
-		Self {
-			item,
-			output: OnceLock::new(),
-		}
+impl FlacImagesExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
+		Self { item: item.clone() }
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&Vec<PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
-			return Ok(x);
-		}
-
+	async fn get_images(&self) -> Result<Vec<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		let reader = SyncReadBridge::new_current(self.item.read().await?);
 		let raw_images = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
 			let reader = FlacReader::new(BufReader::new(reader));
@@ -48,39 +40,35 @@ impl<'a> FlacImagesExtractor<'a> {
 		.await
 		.map_err(std::io::Error::other)??;
 
-		let images = raw_images
+		Ok(raw_images
 			.into_iter()
 			.map(|(mime, data)| PileValue::Blob {
 				mime,
 				bytes: Arc::new(data),
 			})
-			.collect();
-
-		let _ = self.output.set(images);
-		#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
-		return Ok(self.output.get().unwrap());
+			.collect())
 	}
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ListExtractor for FlacImagesExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn get<'a>(&'a self, idx: usize) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(idx))
+impl ListExtractor for FlacImagesExtractor {
+	async fn get<'a>(&'a self, idx: usize) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_images().await?.into_iter().nth(idx))
 	}
 
 	async fn len(&self) -> Result<usize, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.len())
+		Ok(self.get_images().await?.len())
 	}
 }
 
-pub struct FlacExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
-	images: Option<PileValue<'a>>,
+pub struct FlacExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
+	images: Option<PileValue>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> FlacExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl FlacExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		let is_flac = match item {
 			Item::File { path, .. } => path.to_str().unwrap_or_default().ends_with(".flac"),
 			Item::S3 { key, .. } => key.ends_with(".flac"),
@@ -90,18 +78,18 @@ impl<'a> FlacExtractor<'a> {
 			is_flac.then(|| PileValue::ListExtractor(Arc::new(FlacImagesExtractor::new(item))));
 
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 			images,
 		}
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
 
-		let key = match self.item {
+		let key = match &self.item {
 			Item::File { path, .. } => path.to_str().unwrap_or_default().to_owned(),
 			Item::S3 { key, .. } => key.to_string(),
 		};
@@ -132,18 +120,18 @@ impl<'a> FlacExtractor<'a> {
 		.await
 		.map_err(std::io::Error::other)??;
 
-		let mut output: HashMap<Label, Vec<PileValue<'a>>> = HashMap::new();
+		let mut output: HashMap<Label, Vec<PileValue>> = HashMap::new();
 		for (k, v) in raw_tags {
 			if let Some(label) = Label::new(k) {
 				output
 					.entry(label)
 					.or_default()
-					.push(PileValue::String(v.into()));
+					.push(PileValue::String(Arc::new(v.into())));
 			}
 		}
-		let output: HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>> = output
+		let output: HashMap<Label, PileValue> = output
 			.into_iter()
-			.map(|(k, v)| (k, PileValue::Array(v)))
+			.map(|(k, v)| (k, PileValue::Array(Arc::new(v))))
 			.collect();
 
 		let _ = self.output.set(output);
@@ -153,17 +141,14 @@ impl<'a> FlacExtractor<'a> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for FlacExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+impl ObjectExtractor for FlacExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if name.as_str() == "images"
 			&& let Some(ref images) = self.images
 		{
-			return Ok(Some(images));
+			return Ok(Some(images.clone()));
 		}
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name))
+		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/fs.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/fs.rs
index 099dfe9..ae396cd 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/fs.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/fs.rs
@@ -1,27 +1,31 @@
 use pile_config::Label;
-use std::{collections::HashMap, path::Component, sync::OnceLock};
+use std::{
+	collections::HashMap,
+	path::Component,
+	sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+};
 
 use crate::{Item, PileValue, extract::ObjectExtractor};
 
-pub struct FsExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct FsExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> FsExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl FsExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
 
-		let Item::File { path, .. } = self.item else {
+		let Item::File { path, .. } = &self.item else {
 			return Ok(self.output.get_or_init(HashMap::new));
 		};
 
@@ -31,13 +35,13 @@ impl<'a> FsExtractor<'a> {
 				Label::new("extension").unwrap(),
 				path.extension()
 					.and_then(|x| x.to_str())
-					.map(|x| PileValue::String(x.into()))
+					.map(|x| PileValue::String(Arc::new(x.into())))
 					.unwrap_or(PileValue::Null),
 			),
 			(
 				Label::new("path").unwrap(),
 				path.to_str()
-					.map(|x| PileValue::String(x.into()))
+					.map(|x| PileValue::String(Arc::new(x.into())))
 					.unwrap_or(PileValue::Null),
 			),
 			(
@@ -50,9 +54,9 @@ impl<'a> FsExtractor<'a> {
 						Component::RootDir => Some("/".to_owned()),
 						Component::Prefix(x) => x.as_os_str().to_str().map(|x| x.to_owned()),
 					})
-					.map(|x| x.map(|x| PileValue::String(x.into())))
+					.map(|x| x.map(|x| PileValue::String(Arc::new(x.into()))))
 					.collect::<Option<Vec<_>>>()
-					.map(PileValue::Array)
+					.map(|v| PileValue::Array(Arc::new(v)))
 					.unwrap_or(PileValue::Null),
 			),
 		]);
@@ -62,12 +66,9 @@ impl<'a> FsExtractor<'a> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for FsExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner()?.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for FsExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_inner()?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/id3.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/id3.rs
index c81f9b2..64cdd47 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/id3.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/id3.rs
@@ -1,23 +1,28 @@
 use id3::Tag;
 use pile_config::Label;
-use std::{borrow::Cow, collections::HashMap, io::BufReader, sync::OnceLock};
+use std::{
+	borrow::Cow,
+	collections::HashMap,
+	io::BufReader,
+	sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+};
 
 use crate::{Item, PileValue, SyncReadBridge, extract::ObjectExtractor};
 
-pub struct Id3Extractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct Id3Extractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> Id3Extractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl Id3Extractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
@@ -50,7 +55,7 @@ impl<'a> Id3Extractor<'a> {
 			Err(e) => return Err(e.into()),
 		};
 
-		let mut output: HashMap<Label, Vec<PileValue<'a>>> = HashMap::new();
+		let mut output: HashMap<Label, Vec<PileValue>> = HashMap::new();
 		for frame in tag.frames() {
 			if let Some(text) = frame.content().text() {
 				let name = frame_id_to_field(frame.id());
@@ -58,14 +63,14 @@ impl<'a> Id3Extractor<'a> {
 					output
 						.entry(key)
 						.or_default()
-						.push(PileValue::String(text.into()));
+						.push(PileValue::String(Arc::new(text.into())));
 				}
 			}
 		}
 
 		let output = output
 			.into_iter()
-			.map(|(k, v)| (k, PileValue::Array(v)))
+			.map(|(k, v)| (k, PileValue::Array(Arc::new(v))))
 			.collect();
 
 		return Ok(self.output.get_or_init(|| output));
@@ -114,12 +119,9 @@ fn frame_id_to_field(id: &str) -> Cow<'static, str> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for Id3Extractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for Id3Extractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/map.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/map.rs
index 6e21ff2..420a911 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/map.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/map.rs
@@ -3,17 +3,14 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 use crate::{PileValue, extract::ObjectExtractor};
 
-pub struct MapExtractor<'a> {
-	pub(crate) inner: HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>,
+pub struct MapExtractor {
+	pub(crate) inner: HashMap<Label, PileValue>,
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for MapExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.inner.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for MapExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.inner.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/mod.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/mod.rs
index b0c4f9a..c494177 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/mod.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ pub use map::*;
 mod sidecar;
 pub use sidecar::*;
 
-use crate::Item;
+use crate::{Item, PileValue};
 
 /// An attachment that extracts metadata from an [Item].
 ///
@@ -39,10 +39,7 @@ pub trait ObjectExtractor: Send + Sync {
 	/// Get the field at `name` from `item`.
 	/// - returns `None` if `name` is not a valid field
 	/// - returns `Some(Null)` if `name` is not available
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &pile_config::Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a crate::PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error>;
+	async fn field(&self, name: &pile_config::Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error>;
 
 	/// Return all fields in this extractor.
 	/// `Self::field` must return [Some] for all these keys
@@ -59,10 +56,7 @@ pub trait ListExtractor: Send + Sync {
 	/// Indices start at zero, and must be consecutive.
 	/// - returns `None` if `idx` is out of range
 	/// - returns `Some(Null)` if `None` is at `idx`
-	async fn get<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		idx: usize,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a crate::PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error>;
+	async fn get(&self, idx: usize) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error>;
 
 	async fn len(&self) -> Result<usize, std::io::Error>;
 
@@ -71,13 +65,13 @@ pub trait ListExtractor: Send + Sync {
 	}
 }
 
-pub struct MetaExtractor<'a> {
-	inner: MapExtractor<'a>,
+pub struct MetaExtractor {
+	inner: MapExtractor,
 }
 
-impl<'a> MetaExtractor<'a> {
+impl MetaExtractor {
 	#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		let inner = MapExtractor {
 			inner: HashMap::from([
 				(
@@ -120,11 +114,8 @@ impl<'a> MetaExtractor<'a> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for MetaExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &pile_config::Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a crate::PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+impl ObjectExtractor for MetaExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &pile_config::Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		self.inner.field(name).await
 	}
 
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/mod.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/mod.rs
index 56b2570..5934cec 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/mod.rs
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ use crate::{
 	extract::{MapExtractor, ObjectExtractor},
 };
 
-pub struct PdfExtractor<'a> {
-	inner: MapExtractor<'a>,
+pub struct PdfExtractor {
+	inner: MapExtractor,
 }
 
-impl<'a> PdfExtractor<'a> {
+impl PdfExtractor {
 	#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		let mut inner_map = HashMap::new();
 		inner_map.insert(
 			Label::new("text").unwrap(),
@@ -56,28 +56,8 @@ impl<'a> PdfExtractor<'a> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for PdfExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &pile_config::Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
-		if name.as_str() == "text" {
-			match self.inner.inner.get(name).unwrap() {
-				PileValue::ObjectExtractor(x) => return x.field(name).await,
-				_ => unreachable!(),
-			};
-		}
-
-		#[cfg(feature = "pdfium")]
-		#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
-		if name.as_str() == "cover" {
-			match self.inner.inner.get(name).unwrap() {
-				PileValue::ObjectExtractor(x) => return x.field(name).await,
-				_ => unreachable!(),
-			};
-		}
-
+impl ObjectExtractor for PdfExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &pile_config::Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		self.inner.field(name).await
 	}
 
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_cover.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_cover.rs
index 2fbcdb5..18a8832 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_cover.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_cover.rs
@@ -10,20 +10,20 @@ use tracing::trace;
 
 use crate::{Item, PileValue, SyncReadBridge, extract::ObjectExtractor};
 
-pub struct PdfCoverExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct PdfCoverExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> PdfCoverExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl PdfCoverExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
@@ -84,12 +84,9 @@ impl<'a> PdfCoverExtractor<'a> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for PdfCoverExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for PdfCoverExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_meta.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_meta.rs
index fa65df0..4c9ba5d 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_meta.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_meta.rs
@@ -1,26 +1,30 @@
 use pdf::file::FileOptions;
 use pdf::primitive::{Date, TimeRel};
 use pile_config::Label;
-use std::{collections::HashMap, io::BufReader, sync::OnceLock};
+use std::{
+	collections::HashMap,
+	io::BufReader,
+	sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+};
 use tracing::trace;
 
 use crate::extract::ObjectExtractor;
 use crate::{Item, PileValue, SyncReadBridge};
 
-pub struct PdfMetaExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct PdfMetaExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> PdfMetaExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl PdfMetaExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
@@ -80,7 +84,7 @@ impl<'a> PdfMetaExtractor<'a> {
 			}
 		};
 
-		let mut output: HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>> = HashMap::new();
+		let mut output: HashMap<Label, PileValue> = HashMap::new();
 
 		#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
 		output.insert(
@@ -92,7 +96,7 @@ impl<'a> PdfMetaExtractor<'a> {
 		for (key, val) in raw_meta {
 			let label = Label::new(key).unwrap();
 			let value = match val {
-				Some(s) => PileValue::String(s.into()),
+				Some(s) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(s.into())),
 				None => PileValue::Null,
 			};
 			output.insert(label, value);
@@ -115,12 +119,9 @@ fn format_date(d: &Date) -> String {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for PdfMetaExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for PdfMetaExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_pages.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_pages.rs
index 25c4ea9..48f0bee 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_pages.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_pages.rs
@@ -2,86 +2,45 @@ use image::ImageFormat;
 use pdfium_render::prelude::*;
 use std::{
 	io::{BufReader, Cursor},
-	sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+	sync::Arc,
 };
 use tracing::trace;
 
 use crate::{Item, PileValue, SyncReadBridge, extract::ListExtractor};
 
-pub struct PdfPagesExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	bytes: OnceLock<Arc<Vec<u8>>>,
-	pages: OnceLock<Vec<OnceLock<PileValue<'a>>>>,
+pub struct PdfPagesExtractor {
+	item: Item,
 }
 
-impl<'a> PdfPagesExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
-		Self {
-			item,
-			bytes: OnceLock::new(),
-			pages: OnceLock::new(),
-		}
+impl PdfPagesExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
+		Self { item: item.clone() }
 	}
 
-	async fn get_bytes(&self) -> Result<&Arc<Vec<u8>>, std::io::Error> {
-		if let Some(x) = self.bytes.get() {
-			return Ok(x);
-		}
+	async fn get_bytes(&self) -> Result<Vec<u8>, std::io::Error> {
 		let reader = SyncReadBridge::new_current(self.item.read().await?);
-		let bytes = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+		tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
 			let mut b = Vec::new();
 			std::io::Read::read_to_end(&mut BufReader::new(reader), &mut b)?;
 			Ok::<_, std::io::Error>(b)
 		})
 		.await
-		.map_err(std::io::Error::other)??;
-		let _ = self.bytes.set(Arc::new(bytes));
-		#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
-		return Ok(self.bytes.get().unwrap());
-	}
-
-	async fn init_pages(&self) -> Result<&Vec<OnceLock<PileValue<'a>>>, std::io::Error> {
-		if let Some(x) = self.pages.get() {
-			return Ok(x);
-		}
-		let bytes = Arc::clone(self.get_bytes().await?);
-		let count = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
-			let pdfium = Pdfium::default();
-			let doc = pdfium
-				.load_pdf_from_byte_slice(&bytes, None)
-				.map_err(|e| std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, e.to_string()))?;
-			Ok::<_, std::io::Error>(doc.pages().len() as usize)
-		})
-		.await
-		.map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
-		let slots = match count {
-			Ok(n) => (0..n).map(|_| OnceLock::new()).collect(),
-			Err(error) => {
-				trace!(message = "Could not read pdf page count", ?error, key = ?self.item.key());
-				Vec::new()
-			}
-		};
-		return Ok(self.pages.get_or_init(|| slots));
+		.map_err(std::io::Error::other)?
 	}
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ListExtractor for PdfPagesExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn get<'a>(&'a self, idx: usize) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		let pages = self.init_pages().await?;
-		let Some(slot) = pages.get(idx) else {
-			return Ok(None);
-		};
-		if let Some(v) = slot.get() {
-			return Ok(Some(v));
-		}
-
-		let bytes = Arc::clone(self.get_bytes().await?);
+impl ListExtractor for PdfPagesExtractor {
+	async fn get(&self, idx: usize) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		let bytes = self.get_bytes().await?;
 		let png = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
 			let pdfium = Pdfium::default();
 			let doc = pdfium
 				.load_pdf_from_byte_slice(&bytes, None)
 				.map_err(|e| std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, e.to_string()))?;
+			if idx >= doc.pages().len() as usize {
+				return Ok::<_, std::io::Error>(None);
+			}
 			let render_config = PdfRenderConfig::new().set_target_width(1024);
 			let page = doc
 				.pages()
@@ -95,13 +54,14 @@ impl ListExtractor for PdfPagesExtractor<'_> {
 			image
 				.write_to(&mut Cursor::new(&mut png_bytes), ImageFormat::Png)
 				.map_err(|e| std::io::Error::other(e.to_string()))?;
-			Ok::<_, std::io::Error>(png_bytes)
+			Ok(Some(png_bytes))
 		})
 		.await
 		.map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
 
 		let value = match png {
-			Ok(bytes) => PileValue::Blob {
+			Ok(None) => return Ok(None),
+			Ok(Some(bytes)) => PileValue::Blob {
 				mime: mime::IMAGE_PNG,
 				bytes: Arc::new(bytes),
 			},
@@ -110,10 +70,26 @@ impl ListExtractor for PdfPagesExtractor<'_> {
 				PileValue::Null
 			}
 		};
-		return Ok(Some(slot.get_or_init(|| value)));
+		Ok(Some(value))
 	}
 
 	async fn len(&self) -> Result<usize, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.init_pages().await?.len())
+		let bytes = self.get_bytes().await?;
+		let count = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+			let pdfium = Pdfium::default();
+			let doc = pdfium
+				.load_pdf_from_byte_slice(&bytes, None)
+				.map_err(|e| std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, e.to_string()))?;
+			Ok::<_, std::io::Error>(doc.pages().len() as usize)
+		})
+		.await
+		.map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
+		match count {
+			Ok(n) => Ok(n),
+			Err(error) => {
+				trace!(message = "Could not read pdf page count", ?error, key = ?self.item.key());
+				Ok(0)
+			}
+		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_text.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_text.rs
index fbb5f42..2bf33a3 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_text.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/pdf/pdf_text.rs
@@ -1,26 +1,30 @@
 use pdf::content::{Op, TextDrawAdjusted};
 use pdf::file::FileOptions;
 use pile_config::Label;
-use std::{collections::HashMap, io::BufReader, sync::OnceLock};
+use std::{
+	collections::HashMap,
+	io::BufReader,
+	sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+};
 use tracing::trace;
 
 use crate::extract::ObjectExtractor;
 use crate::{Item, PileValue, SyncReadBridge};
 
-pub struct PdfTextExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct PdfTextExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> PdfTextExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl PdfTextExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
@@ -87,7 +91,7 @@ impl<'a> PdfTextExtractor<'a> {
 		#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
 		let output = HashMap::from([(
 			Label::new("text").unwrap(),
-			PileValue::String(raw_text.into()),
+			PileValue::String(Arc::new(raw_text.into())),
 		)]);
 
 		return Ok(self.output.get_or_init(|| output));
@@ -95,12 +99,9 @@ impl<'a> PdfTextExtractor<'a> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for PdfTextExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for PdfTextExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/sidecar.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/sidecar.rs
index 438ef5c..663afe0 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/sidecar.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/sidecar.rs
@@ -6,32 +6,29 @@ use crate::{
 	extract::{ObjectExtractor, TomlExtractor},
 };
 
-pub struct SidecarExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<Option<TomlExtractor<'a>>>,
+pub struct SidecarExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<Option<TomlExtractor>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> SidecarExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl SidecarExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for SidecarExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+impl ObjectExtractor for SidecarExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		match self
 			.output
 			.get_or_init(|| self.item.sidecar().map(TomlExtractor::new))
 		{
 			Some(x) => Ok(x.field(name).await?),
-			None => Ok(Some(&PileValue::Null)),
+			None => Ok(Some(PileValue::Null)),
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/toml.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/toml.rs
index 8cc12fb..7260668 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/toml.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/extract/toml.rs
@@ -1,34 +1,39 @@
 use pile_config::Label;
-use std::{collections::HashMap, sync::OnceLock};
+use std::{
+	collections::HashMap,
+	sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+};
 
 use crate::{AsyncReader, Item, PileValue, extract::ObjectExtractor};
 
-fn toml_to_pile(value: toml::Value) -> PileValue<'static> {
+fn toml_to_pile(value: toml::Value) -> PileValue {
 	match value {
-		toml::Value::String(s) => PileValue::String(s.into()),
-		toml::Value::Integer(i) => PileValue::String(i.to_string().into()),
-		toml::Value::Float(f) => PileValue::String(f.to_string().into()),
-		toml::Value::Boolean(b) => PileValue::String(b.to_string().into()),
-		toml::Value::Datetime(d) => PileValue::String(d.to_string().into()),
-		toml::Value::Array(a) => PileValue::Array(a.into_iter().map(toml_to_pile).collect()),
+		toml::Value::String(s) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(s.into())),
+		toml::Value::Integer(i) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(i.to_string().into())),
+		toml::Value::Float(f) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(f.to_string().into())),
+		toml::Value::Boolean(b) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(b.to_string().into())),
+		toml::Value::Datetime(d) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(d.to_string().into())),
+		toml::Value::Array(a) => {
+			PileValue::Array(Arc::new(a.into_iter().map(toml_to_pile).collect()))
+		}
 		toml::Value::Table(_) => PileValue::Null,
 	}
 }
 
-pub struct TomlExtractor<'a> {
-	item: &'a Item,
-	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>>,
+pub struct TomlExtractor {
+	item: Item,
+	output: OnceLock<HashMap<Label, PileValue>>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> TomlExtractor<'a> {
-	pub fn new(item: &'a Item) -> Self {
+impl TomlExtractor {
+	pub fn new(item: &Item) -> Self {
 		Self {
-			item,
+			item: item.clone(),
 			output: OnceLock::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
+	async fn get_inner(&self) -> Result<&HashMap<Label, PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
 		if let Some(x) = self.output.get() {
 			return Ok(x);
 		}
@@ -39,7 +44,7 @@ impl<'a> TomlExtractor<'a> {
 			Err(_) => return Ok(self.output.get_or_init(HashMap::new)),
 		};
 
-		let output: HashMap<Label, PileValue<'_>> = match toml {
+		let output: HashMap<Label, PileValue> = match toml {
 			toml::Value::Table(t) => t
 				.into_iter()
 				.filter_map(|(k, v)| Label::new(&k).map(|label| (label, toml_to_pile(v))))
@@ -52,12 +57,9 @@ impl<'a> TomlExtractor<'a> {
 }
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
-impl ObjectExtractor for TomlExtractor<'_> {
-	async fn field<'a>(
-		&'a self,
-		name: &Label,
-	) -> Result<Option<&'a PileValue<'a>>, std::io::Error> {
-		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name))
+impl ObjectExtractor for TomlExtractor {
+	async fn field(&self, name: &Label) -> Result<Option<PileValue>, std::io::Error> {
+		Ok(self.get_inner().await?.get(name).cloned())
 	}
 
 	async fn fields(&self) -> Result<Vec<Label>, std::io::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/index/index_fts.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/index/index_fts.rs
index 424d247..182e92a 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/index/index_fts.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/index/index_fts.rs
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ impl DbFtsIndex {
 
 	pub async fn get_field(
 		&self,
-		extractor: &PileValue<'_>,
+		extractor: &PileValue,
 		field_name: &Label,
 	) -> Result<Option<String>, std::io::Error> {
 		let field = match self.cfg.schema.get(field_name) {
@@ -148,16 +148,14 @@ impl DbFtsIndex {
 					PileValue::U64(x) => return Ok(Some(x.to_string())),
 					PileValue::I64(x) => return Ok(Some(x.to_string())),
 
-					#[expect(clippy::unwrap_used)]
-					PileValue::Array(ref mut x) => {
+					PileValue::Array(x) => {
 						if x.len() == 1 {
-							x.pop().unwrap()
+							x[0].clone()
 						} else if x.len() > 1 {
 							debug!(
 								message = "Skipping field, is array with more than one element",
 								field = field_name.to_string(),
 								?path,
-								//value = ?val
 							);
 							continue 'outer;
 						} else {
@@ -299,7 +297,7 @@ impl DbFtsIndex {
 	}
 }
 
-pub fn apply<'a>(post: &FieldSpecPost, val: &PileValue<'a>) -> Option<PileValue<'a>> {
+pub fn apply(post: &FieldSpecPost, val: &PileValue) -> Option<PileValue> {
 	Some(match post {
 		FieldSpecPost::NotEmpty { notempty: false } => val.clone(),
 		FieldSpecPost::NotEmpty { notempty: true } => match val {
@@ -316,11 +314,11 @@ pub fn apply<'a>(post: &FieldSpecPost, val: &PileValue<'a>) -> Option<PileValue<
 			PileValue::Blob { .. } => return None,
 			PileValue::ObjectExtractor(_) => return None,
 			PileValue::ListExtractor(_) => return None,
-			PileValue::String(x) => PileValue::String(x.to_lowercase().into()),
+			PileValue::String(x) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(x.as_str().to_lowercase().into())),
 
-			PileValue::Array(x) => {
-				PileValue::Array(x.iter().map(|x| apply(post, x)).collect::<Option<_>>()?)
-			}
+			PileValue::Array(x) => PileValue::Array(Arc::new(
+				x.iter().map(|x| apply(post, x)).collect::<Option<_>>()?,
+			)),
 		},
 
 		FieldSpecPost::SetCase { case: Case::Upper } => match val {
@@ -330,11 +328,13 @@ pub fn apply<'a>(post: &FieldSpecPost, val: &PileValue<'a>) -> Option<PileValue<
 			PileValue::Blob { .. } => return None,
 			PileValue::ObjectExtractor(_) => return None,
 			PileValue::ListExtractor(_) => return None,
-			PileValue::String(x) => PileValue::String(x.to_uppercase().into()),
+			PileValue::String(x) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(x.as_str().to_uppercase().into())),
 
-			PileValue::Array(x) => {
-				PileValue::Array(x.iter().map(|x| apply(post, x)).collect::<Option<_>>()?)
-			}
+			PileValue::Array(x) => PileValue::Array(Arc::new(
+				x.iter()
+					.map(|x| apply(post, x))
+					.collect::<Option<Vec<_>>>()?,
+			)),
 		},
 
 		FieldSpecPost::TrimSuffix { trim_suffix } => match val {
@@ -345,13 +345,15 @@ pub fn apply<'a>(post: &FieldSpecPost, val: &PileValue<'a>) -> Option<PileValue<
 			PileValue::ObjectExtractor(_) => return None,
 			PileValue::ListExtractor(_) => return None,
 
-			PileValue::String(x) => {
-				PileValue::String(x.strip_suffix(trim_suffix).unwrap_or(x).into())
-			}
+			PileValue::String(x) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(
+				x.strip_suffix(trim_suffix).unwrap_or(x.as_str()).into(),
+			)),
 
-			PileValue::Array(x) => {
-				PileValue::Array(x.iter().map(|x| apply(post, x)).collect::<Option<_>>()?)
-			}
+			PileValue::Array(x) => PileValue::Array(Arc::new(
+				x.iter()
+					.map(|x| apply(post, x))
+					.collect::<Option<Vec<_>>>()?,
+			)),
 		},
 
 		FieldSpecPost::TrimPrefix { trim_prefix } => match val {
@@ -362,13 +364,15 @@ pub fn apply<'a>(post: &FieldSpecPost, val: &PileValue<'a>) -> Option<PileValue<
 			PileValue::ObjectExtractor(_) => return None,
 			PileValue::ListExtractor(_) => return None,
 
-			PileValue::String(x) => {
-				PileValue::String(x.strip_prefix(trim_prefix).unwrap_or(x).into())
-			}
+			PileValue::String(x) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(
+				x.strip_prefix(trim_prefix).unwrap_or(x.as_str()).into(),
+			)),
 
-			PileValue::Array(x) => {
-				PileValue::Array(x.iter().map(|x| apply(post, x)).collect::<Option<_>>()?)
-			}
+			PileValue::Array(x) => PileValue::Array(Arc::new(
+				x.iter()
+					.map(|x| apply(post, x))
+					.collect::<Option<Vec<_>>>()?,
+			)),
 		},
 
 		FieldSpecPost::Join { join } => match val {
@@ -381,7 +385,7 @@ pub fn apply<'a>(post: &FieldSpecPost, val: &PileValue<'a>) -> Option<PileValue<
 
 			PileValue::String(x) => PileValue::String(x.clone()),
 
-			PileValue::Array(x) => PileValue::String(
+			PileValue::Array(x) => PileValue::String(Arc::new(
 				x.iter()
 					.map(|x| apply(post, x))
 					.map(|x| x.and_then(|x| x.as_str().map(|x| x.to_owned())))
@@ -389,7 +393,7 @@ pub fn apply<'a>(post: &FieldSpecPost, val: &PileValue<'a>) -> Option<PileValue<
 					.into_iter()
 					.join(join)
 					.into(),
-			),
+			)),
 		},
 	})
 }
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/item.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/item.rs
index 778b9cd..a2ebd4c 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/item.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/item.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use crate::source::{DirDataSource, S3DataSource};
 // MARK: item
 //
 
+/// A cheaply-clonable pointer to an item in a dataset
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum Item {
 	File {
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/serve/field.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/serve/field.rs
index 2b8d4c0..85dfcb6 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/serve/field.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/serve/field.rs
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ pub async fn get_field(
 	};
 
 	let extractor = MetaExtractor::new(&item);
-	let root: PileValue<'_> = PileValue::ObjectExtractor(Arc::new(extractor));
+	let root: PileValue = PileValue::ObjectExtractor(Arc::new(extractor));
 
 	let value = match root.query(&path).await {
 		Ok(Some(v)) => v,
diff --git a/crates/pile-dataset/src/value.rs b/crates/pile-dataset/src/value.rs
index e1e0eb9..61cb94c 100644
--- a/crates/pile-dataset/src/value.rs
+++ b/crates/pile-dataset/src/value.rs
@@ -6,17 +6,18 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use crate::extract::{ListExtractor, ObjectExtractor};
 
-/// An immutable, lazily-computed value similar to [serde_json::Value].
-pub enum PileValue<'a> {
+/// An immutable, cheaply-clonable, lazily-computed value.
+/// Very similar to [serde_json::Value].
+pub enum PileValue {
 	Null,
 	U64(u64),
 	I64(i64),
 
 	/// A string
-	String(SmartString<LazyCompact>),
+	String(Arc<SmartString<LazyCompact>>),
 
 	/// An array of values
-	Array(Vec<PileValue<'a>>),
+	Array(Arc<Vec<PileValue>>),
 
 	/// A binary blob
 	Blob {
@@ -25,13 +26,13 @@ pub enum PileValue<'a> {
 	},
 
 	/// A lazily-computed map of {label: value}
-	ObjectExtractor(Arc<dyn ObjectExtractor + 'a>),
+	ObjectExtractor(Arc<dyn ObjectExtractor>),
 
 	/// A lazily-computed array
-	ListExtractor(Arc<dyn ListExtractor + 'a>),
+	ListExtractor(Arc<dyn ListExtractor>),
 }
 
-impl Clone for PileValue<'_> {
+impl Clone for PileValue {
 	fn clone(&self) -> Self {
 		match self {
 			Self::Null => Self::Null,
@@ -49,15 +50,15 @@ impl Clone for PileValue<'_> {
 	}
 }
 
-impl<'a> PileValue<'a> {
-	pub async fn query(&'a self, query: &ObjectPath) -> Result<Option<&'a Self>, std::io::Error> {
-		let mut out = Some(self);
+impl PileValue {
+	pub async fn query(&self, query: &ObjectPath) -> Result<Option<Self>, std::io::Error> {
+		let mut out: Option<PileValue> = Some(self.clone());
 
 		for s in &query.segments {
 			match s {
-				PathSegment::Root => out = Some(self),
+				PathSegment::Root => out = Some(self.clone()),
 				PathSegment::Field(field) => {
-					out = match &out {
+					out = match out {
 						None => return Ok(None),
 						Some(Self::Null) => None,
 						Some(Self::U64(_)) => None,
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ impl<'a> PileValue<'a> {
 								usize::try_from(v.len() as i64 - idx).ok()
 							};
 
-							idx.and_then(|idx| v.get(idx))
+							idx.and_then(|idx| v.get(idx)).cloned()
 						}
 						Some(Self::String(_)) => None,
 						Some(Self::ObjectExtractor(_)) => None,
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ impl<'a> PileValue<'a> {
 			}
 		}
 
-		return Ok(out);
+		return Ok(out.clone());
 	}
 
 	pub fn as_str(&self) -> Option<&str> {
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ impl<'a> PileValue<'a> {
 
 			Self::Array(x) => {
 				let mut arr = Vec::new();
-				for item in x {
+				for item in &**x {
 					arr.push(Box::pin(item.to_json()).await?);
 				}
 				Value::Array(arr)