When using the BU eLearning platform in your teaching and learning, you may want to create links to the Library's electronic resources. You should ensure that your links will work even if they are accessed from off-campus. This may require some modifications to the URL, in order to redirect users through the Library's authentication system.
Note that it is sometimes it is possible to copy and paste URLs directly from your browser without making modifications, but only if it already contains the following highlighted elements:
http://0-XXX.XXX.hkbulib.hkbu.edu.hk/XXX
Such URLs will work from off-campus. However, you may still want to consider using the methods below, as the resultant URLs will be shorter and easier to manage.
1. Linking to full-text articles in E-journals
There are two methods: digital object identifiers (DOIs) and permanent URLs. The method that you use will depend on the information provided by the publisher.
Digital object identifier (DOI)
Publishers may provide a unique character string for their electronic documents, referred to as a DOI. For example:
10.1016/10.1002/gnfd.200290001
Where do I find the DOI?
DOIs are usually found in the article record. The example on the right is from Wiley InterScience.
Mouse over to enlarge image
How can I use a DOI to create a link?
A DOI on its own cannot be used to link to an article. It is necessary to first add the DOI prefix (highlighted in red):
Some publishers provide each article or document with a URL that will not change over time - this is referred to as a "permanent URL".
Where do I find the permanent URL?
The permanent URL is usually found in the article record. The example here is from JSTOR.
Note that different publishers will often refer to the permanent URL by different terminology. For example, JSTOR calls it a "stable URL". Other common variations are "article URL" and "persistent URL".
Mouse over to enlarge image
How can I use the permanent URL to create a link?
To create a reliable link, you need to add certain elements to your URL as illustrated below (additional elements are highlighted in red):
http://0-XXX.XXX.hkbulib.hkbu.edu.hk/XXX
The JSTOR link from the example above would therefore need to be modified as follows:
Some databases will automatically make the above modification to the permanent URL.
2. Linking to e-books held by the Library
Mouse over to enlarge image
To link to an e-book in the Library's collection, find the permanent URL provided in the Library Catalogue record for the title. The location of the permanent URL in the Catalogue record is illustrated on the right.
Note that it is not necessary to make any additions to URLs provided by the Catalogue.
Linking to specific e-book chapters
Some e-book publishers provide a DOI or permanent URL for individual chapters. To use such information to create working links to specific chapters in an e-book, follow the relevant instructions in section 1 above.
3. Getting help
If you have any problems creating links to electronic resources, please feel free to Ask a Librarian.
