Link to Articles in Research Databases

You can establish links to articles from research databases in your Desire2Learn course. The contracts of many research database vendors grant automatic copyright permission to library patrons to establish links.

Step 1: Find the Right URL

As it turns out, linking to an article is not as easy as copying the URL from the browser's address bar. Each research database provides a different way to establish durable, long lasting links to articles called persistent URLs (PURLS).

Below are instructions for finding the PURL in some popular databases:

Academic OneFile and General OneFile (Gale) - Click on Bookmark this Document in the Tools box to the right and copy the URL.

ProQuest Central - Find the Document URL below the article and copy the URL.

Issues and Controversies (Facts on File) - Find the Record URL below the article and copy the URL.

CINAHL (Ebscohost) - Click on Permalink in the Tools box to the right and copy the URL.

Step 2: Use the Link Generator to Create "Proxified" Links

To set up links that will work from off-campus, you need to format the links so it redirects them through the EZproxy server. If you don't do this, the links will work from on-campus, but not from off-campus.

• You do not need to do this for freely available sites (such as Google) or links that already begin with https://lcc.idm.oclc.org/login?url=
• The links generated will work from both on-campus and off-campus.
• This tool requires JavaScript enabled in your browser to work.

1. Copy and paste your source URL here:

2. Click the "Create link" button below:

3. Copy and use the resulting link

4. Clear the form to make another link

Step 3: Add the Link to Desire2Learn

Take the link generated above and add it to Desire2Learn. When you add the link to Desire2Learn, make sure to specify that the link open in a new window. Some research databases do not work properly if they open within Desire2Learn.

Open the page in Desire2Learn where you want the database link to appear.

• Select Content.
• Select New Topic.
• Choose Quicklink as Topic Type.
• In the dialog box, select the Parent Module and add a Title.
• Paste in the URL you copied. Check the Open in New Window box.
• Select Save.

For Students

• Link to an Article on a Discussion Board

Related Pages

• Integrating the Library into Desire2Learn
• Library Learning Object Repository
• eLearning Department

Need Help?

You may need to read the database Help information or Ask a Librarian for assistance creating links to articles.