Linking to the Library

Add stable (non-breaking) links to library resources in Blackboard, book lists, reference lists & more. Find out how to ensure your links will work regardless of user location (on/off campus).

What are Stable Links?

URLs and internet addresses change over time – sometimes overnight! Library databases use temporary links when generating your search results.

Stop! Don't copy & paste the URL from your browser's address bar! Do NOT copy & paste a link from the browser URL / address bar.

Stable or persistent links do not change over time

Use stable links when:

  • posting links to library resources in Blackboard
  • saving/sharing links to items found in library databases
  • embedding links into documents

Stable links MUST include our remote authentication prefix (RA prefix), to ensure that users can access both on and off campus.

Ensure access both ON and OFF campus

Library resources links require a remote authentication "Prefix" that is added to the beginning of any persistent link:

https://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=georgian&url=

Combined with a stable link from one of our resources, the RA prefix above will ensure students can access the article anywhere. A complete stable link will look something like this:

https://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=georgian&url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=2011696211&site=eds-live

 
The screenshots below illustrate how to find a "stable link" in most of our databases.

How to find Stable Links to Library's Online Resources

Here are some screenshots that illustrate how to locate links in some of our popular databases. Please see Linking to Library resources for more information about how to create stable links to include in Blackboard, Powerpoint or other locations.

Clicking on permalink reveals a new URL that is stable and persistent.

  1. Click permalink on the right hand side of the article's detailed record
  2. A textbox will appear above the article title revealing a new stable URL which already contains the remote authentication prefix.  

Gale screenshot of link

  1. Under "Tools", click "Citation Tools"
  2. A popup window will open revealing a stable URL
  3. To ensure access from off campus, append the stable URL to our remote authentication prefix
  4. The final stable URL should look similar to:
    https://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=georgian&url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA417020609&v=2.1&u=georgiancollege&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=4affe5827ffe6694c7b94b6e418c452e

On the right hand side, click "Email Jumpstart". A popup window will open. Copy the link shown and append it to the off campus prefix to form a stable URL.

  1. Click "Email Jumpstart" found under the Tools menu
  2. A popup window will open with a stable URL
  3. To ensure off campus access, append the stable URL to our remote authentication prefix
  4. The final stable URL should look similar to:
    https://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=georgian&url=http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&CSC=Y&NEWS=N&PAGE=fulltext&AN=00004356-201509000-00010&LSLINK=80&D=ovft

Click the "Copy Document Link" icon, located in the top right corner, to reveal a popup menu that contains a clickable link. Right click the link to obtain the stable URL.

  1. Click the "Copy Document Link" icon
  2. A popup window will reveal a link which you can right-click and select "Copy shortcut" or "Copy Link"
  3. To ensure off campus access, append the link to our remote authentication prefix
  4. The final stable URL should look similar to:
    https://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=georgian&url=http://www.lexisnexis.com/lnacui2api/api/version1/getDocCui?lni=5GS1-S041-F021-60TR&csi=237924&hl=t&hv=t&hnsd=f&hns=t&hgn=t&oc=00240&perma=true

Click "Cite" on the right hand side and a popup window will appear with the stable link.

  1. Click "Cite" on the right hand side
  2. A popup window will appear with the stable link
  3. To ensure off campus access, append the stable link with our remote authentication prefix
  4. The new stable URL should look similar to:
    https://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=georgian&url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1706580140?accountid=39948

Right click the d.o.i. link then append it to the proxy prefix.

  1. Right click the "doi:" link; Select copy link address
  2. Paste the link after our remote authentication prefix (https://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=georgian&url=)
  3. Using the example above, the final URL will look like this and can be posted on Blackboard etc. : 
    https://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=georgian&url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.05.052