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Clinical Teaching: Creating Persistent Links

What is a persistent link?

A persistent link provides a consistently accessible link to material. Often links to articles from library databases are session-based and will expire, which is why directly copying the link from the browser address bar will not consistently allow for future access. 

How to create a persistent link

  1. Several databases include methods for creating persistent links, below are instructions for generating persistent links from common databases.
  2. Create a link using the DOI, if available (see instructions under other databases).
  3. To ensure off-campus access, add the NOSM University proxy prefix to a persistent link (see instructions).

Creating persistent links from databases

Includes CINAHL and ERIC

  1. Select an article and click on the article title
  2. Under the tools menu on the right hand side, click on permalink
  3. The link will appear in a window above the title

Includes MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases

  1. Select an article and click on the article title
  2. Under the tools menu on the right hand side, click on email jumpstart 

Linking to articles
  1. Copy the URL from the browser address bar
  2. Modify the highlighted content in the URL:

Original link: https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/journal/1-s2.0-S0165178116309283

 
Linking to other content 

See Clinical Key's own documentation found on the following webpage under "Durable URLs":

https://elsevierresources.com/clinicalkey/clinicalkey/implementation/ 

The DOI of an article can often be used to create a persistent link. 

 

What is a DOI?

DOI stands for digital object identifier and provides a unique identifier for an online article or document.

 
How to create a link using a DOI
  1. Find the DOI within the record: (eg. 10.1056/NEJMp1407463)
  2. Add the DOI prefix to the number https://doi.org/

e.g. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1407463

Tips

  • Check the terms of use for the journal to ensure that your use of the material complies with the license terms. 
  • Freely accessible websites generally don't require the use of persistent links.
  • Some persistent links can eventually expire so we recommend checking them periodically and be sure to save the citation!
  • If you have questions or are having trouble creating a persistent link, contact the library at askthelibrary@nosm.ca.

How to ensure off-campus access

To ensure that a link will provide off-campus access, you must add the NOSM University proxy prefix (https://proxy.lib.nosm.ca/login?url=) in front of a persistent link. This will prompt the user to enter their NOSM University username and password so they can access the resource off campus.

 

Example: 

  • On campus link: 
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1614104
  • Off campus link: 
https://proxy.lib.nosm.ca/login?url=http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1614104

 

Use the tool below to easily add the proxy prefix!

Off campus proxy tool

1. Copy the link

2. Paste the link into the box below and it will add the proxy in front of the link

3. Share this combined link

Paste your URL here:

New proxied URL: