PURLS
PURLS, or Permanent URLs, are links to web pages that remain stable over time. Not all URLs are permanent - some are "session-based." These will not work after you log-off, navigate away from the page and/or if you click them several hours later.
- You can use Library Course Reserves management software to create PURLS for your students. To learn more about Library Course Reserves, see our Course Reserves information page.
- Or you can find and EZproxy your own Persistent URLs.
- Click the Off-Campus tab to learn how and when to use EZProxy.
- Click the Online Materials tab to learn how to distinguish between session-based and permanent URLs.
Why should I use a PURL?
Many people would prefer to upload the full-text of an article directly into their online course. That's understandable - to do so is a quick and technically simple process.
According to UBC's Digital Classroom FAQ 3.4, posting a single article from a periodical publication or a book chapter to UBC’s secure learning management system may be permitted under UBC's Fair Dealing Requirements, unless this is not allowed under the terms of the licence for the specific e-journal or e-book provided by UBC Library.
- Before uploading an article into your online course, check the Library's License Information page to learn how to check the permitted uses for content from our licensed resources (i.e., indexes, databases, e-journals).
- If a resource indicates that you are not permitted to put its content "in e-reserves" then you will need to provide your students with a persistent link to the article instead.
- Note, many journals are purchased as part of a large package and thus, are not searchable by individual title.
- If the journal you are interested in is not listed in the License Information Database you can contact your subject liaison librarian or E-Resources Help for further assistance.
Off Campus
PURLS on their own do not allow the system to authenticate users. This means that your PURLS won't work when accessed from off-campus. To avoid having this happen you must add a special prefix to your PURL. To do this you can:
1) Use our EZProxy Prepender tool to do the work for you.
2) OR add the following prefix to each PURL yourself:
http://ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/login?url=
- This prefix will prompt students to log-in using their CWL before accessing the article, allowing the system to confirm that the user is a current UBC student, faculty or staff-member.
Online Materials
How can I tell if a webpage URL is permanent?
- Look at the URL that appears in your browser's address bar and see if the word “session” appears in it. This means that the URL is only valid for your (temporary) session. For example:
- A session-based URL will not work if you email it to someone else or if you try to access it after your session has expired.
- The length of a typical session is unpredictable and generally ends if you navigate away from the current page or log off your computer.
- Look to see if there’s a link on the page that says “Permanent URL,” “PURL,” “Permalink,” “Stable URL” etc. This will be the URL that you will want to use.
- Sometimes no such link is offered. In these cases, check to see if there is an option to email a link to the article to yourself.
- For example, OVID articles (HTML formats) have a link called "email jumpstart" which will generate a permanent URL for you to copy.
To test a URL email to yourself and try to open it from home, another workstation or even just a couple of hours later. If it won’t open you’ve likely got a session-based URL.
- Another type of permanent link is a DOI – or Digital Object Indicator. DOIs look like this: 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.005. Using DOIs with EZproxy can be tricky so only use them if no other permanent URL option is offered.
Here's what the DOI looks like in an article's detailed record:
- DOIs need a special EZProxy prefix:
http://ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/
- So the full and complete link you'd have to use for the DOI 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.005 would be http://ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.005.
- As noted above, DOIs don't always work well with EZProxy - you can report problems here
Another Example
To link to the following article - found using the database Academic Search Complete – see the instructions below.
Beatty, A. (2010). "How Did It Feel for You? Emotion, Narrative, and the Limits of Ethnography." American Anthropologist, 112(3), 430-443.
- Select the correct article from your results list.
- Look at the Tools menu on the right side of the page.
- Click Permalink and copy the URL that appears in the pop-up window.
If you followed these steps then the EZproxy-generated PURL that you would link to in your course would be: http://ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=53042415&login.asp&site=ehost-live
eBooks and Print
Each eBook platform has a unique way of providing PURLs for its materials - and some platforms do not need the EZproxy prefix.
- Instead of figuring out which eBooks need EZProxy simply provide your students with a link to the UBC Library catalogue record for the eBooks you want them to read.
- Do not use the URL in your browser's address bar - this is session-based.
- Instead - you will find a PURL at the bottom of each Library catalogue record.
- Note, you do not have to add the E-Z Proxy prefix to a UBC Library catalogue PURL.
Opening an eBook
Each eBook record in the catalogue has an orange "online access" link.
- Click the link.
- Sign in with your CWL or your Library barcode & pin number.
- The eBook should open automatically.
- If you are denied access you can report your problem here.
Linking to Catalogue Results
The Library also has a tool which will allow you to create a persistent URL to search results from the catalogue. This is available for author, title, subject, isbn and issn searches. Please refer to the instructions at Create a Persistent URL to the Catalogue
More Information
- For step-by-step instruction on creating persistent links in a number of popular article indexes & databases see http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/library/help/creatinglinks.html
- For additional help with linking to UBC Library resources you can contact us via the E-Resources Contact Form or you can contact your subject librarian.
- For the University's most current statement and guidelines on copyright, visit the official UBC Copyright website: http://copyright.ubc.ca/
- To learn how to check the permitted uses of materials from a particular electronic resource see our License Information page here: http://licenses.library.ubc.ca/
