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Creating Persistent Links

What is a Persistent Link?​

A persistent link, sometimes called a stable link, direct URL, or permalink, is a URL that connects directly to an online article, database, e-book, or other resource. Persistent links can be placed within the course management system, syllabi, course web sites, or other locations.

Why Should I use a Persistent Link?

Copyright is one reason to use persistent links. You can link to an article in a database, e-journal, or e-book and remain copyright compliant, but you cannot always copy an article or book chapter and upload it to the course management without permission from the copyright holder. Failure to follow copyright law can result in fines for the department and for Wheaton College.  Please visit the Wheaton College Copyright Guide for more information.

Another good reason to use persistent links is that if you link to an article the database keeps track of how often it is being used. The library faculty use this information when making collection development decisions. 

Create a Persistent Link

Creating a persistent link that can be used from on or off-campus can be accomplished using the OpenAthens Link Generator.

The section below titled Identifying Persistent Links from the Publisher contains instructions to help identify the direct URL from some of the more common databases/platforms that Wheaton College subscribes to.

Entering a direct URL in the OpenAthens Link Generator will join Wheaton’s athenized URL to the direct URL, creating a persistent link automatically. This persistent link can be copied and pasted into a course management system, syllabi, or course sites. Please note that persistent links from Library Search and EBSCO do not need to be “athenized.” These links contain built in authentication parameters that will connect users to the material whether on campus or off.

Please contact your subject librarian if help is desired entering your persistent link in the course management system. The AIT Help Desk (ext. 5217) can also provide additional assistance for more complex issues.

After creating the link

Try testing your link from on- and off-campus if possible to ensure the link is usable.  Also test the link from the course management system.

Beside each link you create in the course management system, state the full bibliographical information for the article. This way, your students will be able to track down the article even if the link fails for some reason during the course.

Identifying Persistent Links from the Publisher

Our databases come from many different vendors and as a result are all set up differently  The location for the direct URL used to create a persistent link in one database may be completely different from the location in another. Some databases will refer to these direct URLs as a “permalink,” stable URL,” or other similar name. Some databases don’t refer to these links by name at all.  

If there is a resource that you would like to create a link for that is not highlighted in one of the examples below please contact your subject librarian for additional help.

Platform Specific Instructions

 
Library Search
  1. Click the title of the desired article in the search results to view the article details.

    Library Search One
     
  2. Click the “Permalink” icon just under the title in the “Send To” box to reveal the permalink. Then click “copy the permalink to clipboard” to transfer that link. This persistent link already contains athenized information, there is no need to athenize this link. 

    Library Search Two
 
Cambridge
  1. The direct URL is listed as “DOI”, copy this URL. 

    Illustrates where the DOI URL is in Cambridge Books
 
EBSCO (Academic Search Complete, Atla, Business Source Elite, PsycArticles, etc.)
  1. Click on the article’s title for more details

    EBSCO One
     
  2. Click on the “Permalink” link off to the right side of the screen to generate the direct URL. This persistent link already contains athenized information, there is no need to athenize this link.

    EBSCO Two
  3. Copy the direct URL that is generated

    EBSCO Three
Elsevier (Science Direct)
  • The direct URL is found near the top of the page just under the title and author information. Copy this URL.

    Elsevier

 

JSTOR
  1. JSTOR Articles: The direct URL for JSTOR articles can be found on the left side of the screen under the publication information.  

    JSTOR article
     
  2. JSTOR eBooks: The direct URL can be found under the publication information.

    JSTOR eBooks

Kanopy

To find the direct URL click on the “share” button under the video. This will reveal the “share link” (or direct URL) further down the page.

Kanopy


Oxford

  1. To find the direct URL click on the “+” icon on the far right of the screen.

    Oxford One
     
  2. In the “Find a source” space type “Copy Link”

    Oxford Two
     
  3. Click on the “Copy Link” icon to reveal the direct URL.

    Oxford Three
     
  4. Click on the “Copy” box to copy the direct URL.

    Oxford Four
Project Muse
  1. Click on the “+” on the right of the screen.

    Project Muse One
     
  2. Copy the direct URL from the top of the screen.  

    Project Muse Two

ProQuest (Literature Online, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, etc.)
ProQuest Article:
  1. Click on the article’s title to get more information.

    ProQuest Literature One
     
  2. Click on “Abstract/Details” tab

    ProQuest Literature Two
     
  3. Scroll down to reveal the “Document URL”  which is the article’s direct URL.

    ProQuest Literature Three

 

ProQuest e-books (Ebook Central)

 

  1. Finding the Direct URL for the whole e-book: Click on the “Share Link to Book” link on the left side of the screen and this will reveal the direct URL for this e-book.  

    ProQuest eBook
     
  2. Finding Direct URL for e-book chapter: When in a chapter of the e-book, click on the “link” icon at the top of the page, which will reveal the direct URL.  

    ProQuest Book Chapter One

    ProQuest Book Chapter Two

 

Sage
  • The direct URL is listed under the title information.  

    Sage

Springer
  1. Click the title of the article for more information.

    Springer One
     
  2. On the right of the screen click on “Copyright Information.”

    Springer Two
     
  3. The direct URL will be listed under “DOI.”

    Springer Three

Taylor & Francis

  • Taylor & Francis Article: for an article, the direct URL is found under the title and publication information.  

    Taylor and Francis Article


  • Taylor & Francis e-book: the direct URL is found under the publication information under the heading “DOI.”

    Taylor and Francis Book
     

Wiley
  • Wiley Online Library Article:
  1. The direct URL for an article is found under the title and publication information for the article.  

    Wiley Article
     
  • Wiley e-book:
  1. The direct URL of an e-book is the URL in the address bar.  

    Wiley eBook
     
  2. To find the direct URL of an e-book chapter, click into the chapter title and the direct URL will be under the title and publication information.  

    Wiley eBook Chapter