Library Search for Instructional Designers

The best way to share library resources in D2L is by using stable permalinks, rather than uploading PDFs or linking from the browser.

A permalink (short for "permanent link") is a stable URL that points directly to a resource in the library's system. It's different from teh URL in the address bar, which may not work reliably for others. 

Permalinks: 

• Ensure students are routed through the library's authentication system. 
• Work consistently across semesters
• Help track resource use for future planning and renewals. 

If you have questions about copyright, course materials, and fair use contact our copyright librarian, Ellen Dubinsky, and consult the understanding copyright page.

To get a link to course materials using library search:

1. Find the content and select the green "Available online" link. This will take you to the item in its database.
2. Look for a link titled "Permalink," "Copy link," or "Copy direct link"
3. Selecting that link will usually copy the URL to your clipboard. Otherwise, you can highlight and copy the URL.
4. Paste the URL into our ezproxy tool. This will add an ezproxy prefix to the URL, making access from off campus much easier. (Note: Only use the ezproxy tool with the direct link to the content, not the PERMALINK from the library search page [which starts with arizona-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com]. Adding an ezproxy prefix to library search's PERMALINK will result in a security warning error.)
5. Paste the URL generated by the ezproxy tool in your course site
6. If you need help creating a URL or can't get a URL to work off campus, contact your librarian

Permalinks are often really long. Shorten your links through TinyURL or Bitly if you need to display a permalink in your syllabus or elsewhere.

If you're using a library database, how you find and get a link to course materials varies:

1. Find the content and go to the full version of the article, ebook, or video
2. Look for a link titled "Permalink," "Copy link," or "Copy direct link"
3. Selecting that link will usually copy the URL to your clipboard. Otherwise, you can highlight and copy the URL.
4. Paste the URL into our ezproxy tool. This will add an ezproxy prefix to the URL, making access from off campus much easier. (Note: Only use the ezproxy tool with the direct link to the content, not the PERMALINK from the library search page [which starts with https://arizona-primo.hosted]. Adding an ezproxy prefix to library search's PERMALINK will result in a security warning error.)
5. Paste the URL generated by the ezproxy tool in your course site
6. If you need help creating a URL or can't get a URL to work off campus, contact your librarian

Permalinks are often really long. Shorten your links through TinyURL or Bitly if you need to display a permalink in your syllabus or elsewhere.