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Articles in a Database or Online Journal – How to Create a Link


You can create a link to many of the articles available through Library databases and online journals.

In order to create a link to an article, you need to use a persistent link. These are sometimes called persistent URLs, stable URLs or DOIs (digital object identifiers.)

Use Existing Persistent Links:

Some databases and online journals have persistent links to the article level. You can copy and paste these URLs into your course page.

Example from an EBSCO Database:
Example from an EBSCO Database
CAUTION: In order for your students to be able to access the articles from off campus, the persistent link needs to include the prefix for the Libraries’ proxy server. If the persistent URL does not have this prefix, you can easily just add it to the front of the link. The proxy server prefix is "http://ezproxy.lib.utexas.edu/login?url=".

If you are adding the link to your Blackboard course, use this prefix instead - "http://ezproxy.lib.utexas.edu/login?auth=ezproxy&url=." By doing so, students will be passed directly to the resource without having to log in again with their UT EID.

Example from JSTOR:
Example from JSTOR
Use the Stable URL in JSTOR but add "http://ezproxy.lib.utexas.edu/login?url=" before http://links.jstor.org… or, if you are using the link in a Blackboard course, add "http://ezproxy.lib.utexas.edu/login?auth=ezproxy&url=" before http://links.jstor.org...

Create a Persistent Link:

Not all databases and online journals provide persistent links to the articles contained in them. In these situations, you must create your own persistent link using citation information as follows:

  1. Go to the Find an Article from a Citation page.


  2. Fill in as much of the citation information as possible.

    Find an Article from a Citation


  3. Click Find it at UT


  4. A Find it at UT box will pop up which shows all of the options for accessing the article online. Double check at least one access point to ensure that it takes you to the article you want. Keep in mind that some links will take you to the journal, volume or issue level, or may even put you at the search screen for a database. In these cases, you will want to provide your students with instructions on how to find the article from this point.

    Find it at UT result


  5. Click on "Other Access Options" and select "Save citation information."

    Other Access Options & Save citation information


  6. This is the persistent URL to use on your course page. Keep in mind that this URL will take your students to the Find it at UT box. You will need to provide them with instructions about what to expect and how to proceed from there.

    Capture Citation

Usage Rights

Different online journal and database vendors provide different usage rights. To find out whether you have the right to use a persistent link on your course page, do the following:

  1. If you are creating a persistent link, find the Find it at UT box and click on Usage Rights. Look for information about persistent linking.

    Usage Rights 1


  2. If you are using an existing persistent link and did not have to create one, you can check for usage rights as follows.
    1. From the Find a Journal page, type in the name of your journal.

      Find a Journal


    2. Click Go

    3. In the Find it at UT box, look for the Usage Rights link.

      Usage Rights 2

If you cannot find information about usage rights, please contact Ronda Rowe (rrowe@austin.utexas.edu), University of Texas Libraries, for assistance.