Linking to Library Resources

Linda Slater

John W. Scott Health Sciences Library

linda.slater@ualberta.ca

780-492-7948

What will be covered?

Access technology behind library electronic resources• EZProxy

Demo of methods for linking to library electronic resources• Creating links to be sent via email, chat or to

add to LibGuides• DOIs, persistent links, OpenURLs• Link checking service; eReserve

Accessing Licensed Resources

Licenses for library electronic resources require that users be ‘authenticated’ before they are permitted access to content.

Authentication occurs when:• Someone logs into a computer on the campus network

(office, AICT lab, library, wireless network).• Someone on an off-campus clicks on a link on the

library website that prompts for authentication and logs in with their CCID.

Library E-Resources

Online databases• Mostly licensed• Some freely available, e.g. PubMed, ERIC

Online journals• Mostly licensed• Growing number of Open Access journals

e-Books• Mostly licensed

Links to online documents, e.g. gov docs• Mostly freely available

EZProxy

Prefixes are embedded into links on library website.

If EZProxy detects that a link to a licensed resource is being accessed from off-campus, user will be prompted to login in with their CCID.

Those providing links to licensed library resources should add the EZProxy prefix to URLs to facilitate authentication.

EZProxy Prefix

http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=

Original URL: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/bi8006143

‘EZProxified’ URL: http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/bi8006143

Dynamic vs Static URLs

Determine whether the access link is a ‘dynamic’ or ‘static’ URL.

‘Dynamic’ URLs are generated from a script or from a search of the site’s database each time a link is accessed. The URL will be different each time and is usually quite long. Don’t use a dynamic URL to send a link.

‘Static’ URLs remain constant unless manually changed and are relatively short.

Dynamic Full-text Link

Static Full-text Link

Adding the EZProxy Prefix for Journal article .pdfs

Resulting URL would be: http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/bi8006143

Linking to Abstract or .pdf??? Consider linking to the online abstract/citation

of the reference which contains links to full-text rather than linking directly to the .pdf.

Necessary if full-text link is dynamic. Preferable if there are alternative full-text

formats available for the user to choose from. See http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bi8006143

Still need to add the EZProxy prefix if linking to the article abstract/citation.

Persistent Links in Aggregator Databases, e.g. EBSCO, Ovid, etc.

Users can link to full-text from article records, e.g. http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=2009973322&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site

EZProxy prefix not always included, e.g. it isn’t in JSTOR. Add it, if it isn’t.

Instructions for Specific Aggregators

EBSCOHost: http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases_help/faculty_ezproxy/ebsco/index.cfm

Proquest: http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases_help/faculty_ezproxy/proquest/index.cfm

Journals@Ovid: http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases_help/faculty_ezproxy/journals_ovid/index.cfm

Linking to Ovid Full-text

Ovid, cont.

Linking to Articles Using DOIs

DOI = Digital Object Indicator System for providing persistent URLs for

electronic literature. Often provided with article full-text or in

database records. Look-up service is available at:

http://www.crossref.org/guestquery/

Formula for Creating DOIs Locate DOI, e.g. following DOI is provided:

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2008.03.004 

Remove ‘doi:’ and prefix with http://dx.doi.org/, e.g. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2008.03.004

Add EZProxy prefix, e.g. http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2008.03.004

DOIs and Aggregators

If our only access to the full-text of a journal is available via an aggregator, the DOI for the full-text will not direct user to U of A accessible full-text.

However, the DOI can still be used for citation purposes:

E.g. Bong, M. (2009). Age-related differences in achievement goal differentiation. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101(4): 879-896. doi:10.1037/a0015945

OpenURLs

OpenURLs contain ‘metadata’ (information that describes a document) and are intended to facilitate access to a specific library’s resources through the use of a ‘link resolver’, e.g. GetIt.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenURL for additional information about OpenURLs.

Creating OpenURLs

Go to the GetIt Citation Linker at http://www.library.ualberta.ca/getit/citation/

Enter information about article, check the View Open URL box.

Click on the GetIt button.

Generating OpenURL

Copy the OpenURL that is created

NOTE: You do not need to add the EZProxy prefix to OpenURLs as the link(s) on the resulting GetIt menu will contain the prefix automatically.

A GetIt menu generated by an Open URL

Tips for Using the GetIt Citation Linker

Enter only the name of the journal (or ISSN), year of publication, volume, issue and start page.

Use Exact Match or Starting With if more than one title is found for the journal title you entered.

If a journal title containing and is not found, try substituting &, and vice versa.

Linking to eBooks via NEOS Catalogue

Easiest method is to link to the NEOS catalogue record for the eBook.

Search the catalogue for the title and in the Details display, click on Create Permanent Link.

Copy the link that appears. You do not need to add the EZProxy prefix as

this is built into the catalogue link.

Linking Directly to Books 24x7, ebrary, and MyILibrary Titles

After clicking on access link from catalogue, copy resulting URL, e.g. http://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=25549.

Add EZProxy prefix, e.g. http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=25549

E-Book links in catalogue record

Linking Directly to NetLibrary Titles After clicking on access link from catalogue,

click on the Full Metadata link for the title and look for the Product ID.

Replace the XXXXXX in the following URL with the Product ID: http://www.netlibrary.com/summary.asp?id=XXXXXX

Add the EZProxy prefix, e.g. http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://www.netlibrary.com/summary.asp?id=214511

NetLibrary: Locating Product ID

Example: Books 24x7 Links

Linking to UA WorldCat Records

Linking to Freely Available Docs

No need to add EZ Proxy prefix Link to specific chapter or document

table of contents? Link directly to .pdf or to description page?

E.g. Chap 20: Eating Disorders - Women’s Health Surveillance Report

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/whsr-rssf/index-eng.php

Linking to Library Subject Pages & LibGuides

Locate the appropriate subject page or LibGuide on the library website and copy the URL.

It is not necessary to add the EZProxy prefix to these links as they are included, as required, on all library website pages.

Linking to a Database ‘More Info’ Page

Consider linking to the More Info page for a database, particularly for those with dynamic access links.

Linking to a Database ‘More Info’ page, cont.

Linking Directly to Databases

Linking to a Database ‘Static’ URL

Copy the access link and add the EZProxy prefix.

Linking to Search Strategies

Available in EBSCOHost, PubMed and UA WorldCat

Allows you to create search and send link that will re-create search for the user.

EBSCOHost Share Search

PubMed

PubMed, cont.

UA WorldCat

TinyURLs

Use the TinyURL generator at http://tinyurl.com/ to substitute TinyURLs for lengthy URLs.

Particularly useful if you need to include a long URL in a print reading list or in an email where word wrapping sometimes cuts off long URLs.

If the EZProxy prefix needs to be included on a URL, add it to the URL before entering it into the TinyURL generator.

Very Important!!!

ALWAYS

check your links before you send them to ensure that they work!

The Library Reading List Service

See http://www.library.ualberta.ca/reserverequest/readinglist/

Library staff will locate and create links for electronic material for instructor reading lists. • Staff will include the EZProxy prefix as

appropriate when preparing the reading list.

The Library eReserve Service

The Library staff will create an eReserve page for courses. The page will provide links to electronic material.

See http://www.library.ualberta.ca/reserveroom/instructorguidelines/index.cfm for more information including criteria for what can be included.

See http://ualberta.docutek.com/eres/coursepass.aspx?cid=109 for a sample eReserve page.

More Info

Linking to Library Resources: http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases_help/faculty_ezproxy/index.cfm

Reading List Service & eReserve: http://www.library.ualberta.ca/reserveroom/instructorguidelines/index.cfm