Definition:
A permalink is a permanent link, stable URL or web address that will consistently point to a specific online information resource such as an article, book chapter, e-book, or other online resource. It is less susceptible to link rot and easily allows a reader to go directly to a particular resource (e.g., article) rather than starting at a homepage (e.g., of a journal) and then attempting to find a specific article. Permalinks are especially useful for sharing electronic articles and books or for citing your sources
Why bother with a permalink? Can't I just use the URL from the address bar or load a PDF directly onto my site?
Copying and pasting links directly from the address bar on a webpage can be problematic. Often these links are temporary and will not link back to the original source. Using a permalink makes getting back to an article much easier. Permalinks can be added to your Canvas site, webpage, library electronic reserves, email or any other place you use a URL.
Linking directly to articles in Library subscribed e-resources has the advantages of being copyright compliant and cost effective. Using permalinks to connect readers to articles also creates usage statistics that the Library examines when deciding whether or not to continue a subscription. Reading a PDF that was loaded onto a site does not create usage statistics. Thus, a journal that should be garnering high usage statistics will end up showing very little usage.
How do I find/create a permalink?
Most University of Delaware databases include a permalink in the article record. Depending upon the resource being used, permalinks may also be called a DOI (direct object identifier), a stable, durable, persistent, permanent or document link or URL, a bookmark or simply, link.
To ensure off campus access:
Licensing restrictions require the library to ensure that only current University of Delaware students and staff can access our subscribed e-resources from off campus. To comply with this restriction, the library uses a proxy prefix and an EZproxy server to authenticate off-campus users. The library's proxy prefix must be added to a permalink in order for off-campus access to work. A proxy prefix is a string of text in front of a URL that lets the EZproxy server know that you want to log in through the Library's subscription. After clicking on a URL that includes the proxy prefix you will be asked to login using your UDelNet ID and password before accessing the resource. The library's proxy prefix looks like this and is usually at the front of a URL: https://library.udel.edu/static/proxy.php? The most important thing to remember is that in order for the library’s licensed resources to work off-campus, URLs must contain the proxy prefix.
Is there any easy way to do this??
Yes! Once you have identified the permalink to a UD e-resource that you wish to include on your site, use the EZproxy URL Link Creator to create a UD authenticated permalink. This will add the proxy prefix to the permalink for you. All you need to do is copy and paste.