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Linking to e-Resources

Submitted by Anonymous on July 24, 2008 - 17:41

 

You need to...
Provide links to articles, e-Resources and Library Catalogue records in Avenue and other course Web pages that are stable over time and will work both on and off campus.

The problem:
Adding links the usual way (copying and pasting the URL that appears in your browser) doesn't always work since those URLs often contain variables that change every time the article or e-Resource is accessed. Also, the URLs you copy from your browser do not contain the code necessary to make off-campus access possible.

The Solution:
Use Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) or Persistent URLs and the information contained on these pages to create links that work!

Select one of the tabs above to get started!

 

Step 1 --

Find the most reliable link to the article. In most article databases and e-journals, the best link is the DOI (Digital Object Identifier). If you can't find a DOI, a "Persistent URL" (also called "Article URL", "Durable URL", "Stable URL" etc.) is the second best option. If you can't find either, the URL in your browser's address bar might also work. For Factiva articles, use the document number located at the bottom of the article.
Step 2 --

Paste the DOI, URL, or Factiva document number into the form below & hit "GO". For Factiva articles, select the "Factiva Article" checkbox.

Factiva Article

Examples:
DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2006.00030.x
Persistent URL: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/elh/v072/72.4reiss.html 
 Document #: weup000020020731dy4100008

 
Step 3 --
After you hit "GO", the fully formatted URL will appear in the dark grey space above; this URL will allow your students to access the article from anywhere (on & off-campus). You may paste this URL into your WebCT or course Web page.
Step 4 --
Please test all URLs that you include in WebCT or course Web pages to ensure that they resolve properly, both on and off-campus.
Note
 If you have a complete citation but cannot find the article in a database or e-journal, use the Citation Linker to determine whether the article is online or not (enter the complete citation information when using the Citation Linker). If you find the article, click the "Save Citation and URL" for a URL you can copy and paste into your WebCT/course Web page, etc.


  

Step 1 --

 Find the e-Resource in the Library Catalogue
Step 2 --

When you find the e-Recource, locate the "Link to Online Resource" link, right-click it and select "Copy Link Location" or "Copy Shortcut"
Step 3 --
 Paste the copied URL into your WebCT or course Web page (Note: the URL in the record is fully-formatted for on- and off-campus access). Do not click the link to the e-Resource and then copy the URL in your browser's address bar!
Step 4 --
 Please test all URLs that you include in Avenue or course Web pages to ensure that they resolve properly, both on-campus and off-.
Example
  1. Search for the title Cognet
  2. Right-click the "Link to Online Resource" link
  3. Copy the URL (in this case the URL is http://libaccess.mcmaster.ca/login?url=http://cognet.mit.edu/library/) and paste it into Avenue/your course Web page.
  4. Once you have made the page "live", test the URL!

 

 

Every record in the Library Catalogue has a "permalink" that you can copy & paste into Avenue or any other Web page:

You can also link to any page in the catalogue, including a list of search results. To create a stable link to any page in the Library Catalogue, simply remove the Session ID from the URL. Here's an example: