If you need to share or save a link to a UVic online electronic resource, using a stable link will ensure that the link will connect you to the same resource later on, rather than to an error or login screen. This guide will illustrate ways to create permanent links to Library Search records and directly to eresources.
Stable links are also referred to as permalinks, permanent links, or persistent links.
This box will describe how to create a stable link which leads directly to an eBook, article, or other electronic resource. This approach is best if you are hoping to create a link which will remain usable for UVic users into the indefinite future, allowing you to share links with your classmates, colleagues, students, or your future self.
Simply copying and pasting website addresses from the address bar will not allow you or others to access materials all of the time. Materials which are accessed through UVic's licensing agreements will need proof of your UVic login credentials before you are allowed to access them.
Including UVic's proxy server link in the permanent URL will create stable links which can be accessed by anyone with a UVic login credential, on or off campus. If you are sharing the link with users outside of UVic, it is best to simply send a stable link without adding the UVic proxy address.
The first step is to find the stable link or Digital Object Identifier (DOI) of the resource you are interested in. Sometimes, as in the screenshot below, you will find the stable link or DOI listed clearly on the item's page in the database.
If the database does not provide a stable link or DOI, it is still possible to look up the DOI. The DOI is a standardized and unique number assigned to a book or article. You may see it listed at the beginning of the article along with other bibliographical information.
If you are having trouble finding the DOI for an article, you can use CrossRef's search tool to locate it as shown below, by entering the last name of the first author and the article's exact title.
Combining the DOI with the UVic proxy address as described below is the best way to get a stable link for an item which you will be able to use into the indefinite future.
Once you've located the permalink or DOI, you can use UVic Libraries' online Creating persistent links tool to direct the link through UVic's login process in order to give other users access to the material.
Simply enter the link to the eresource you are working with into the persistent link tool, and click the 'Step 2' button to create your URL.
After the system has crafted your new permanent URL, be sure to test the link using the 'Step 3' button which will appear next to the new link.
For more information on creating permalinks through the UVic proxy, click here.
Generally speaking, URLs for Library Search records are stable. If you copy and paste the website address from a record page after searching for it, the address will be reusable in the future, even with a different browser or device.
However, the link will be lengthy and preserve the search keywords which you used to locate the item.
If you'd prefer a shorter link, you can click 'Permalink' under the 'Send to' menu found on the item's full record page. Copy and paste this link as you need.
These links will remain active for as long as UVic Libraries uses the Library Search interface. While this will likely mean that your link will be current for at least a decade or more (as of 2022), these links are not designed to last indefinitely.
Alternatively, from your search page you may also click the three dots at the top right of a resource listing in order to access the same menu options, including permalink.
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