Integrating Library Content into Blackboard

If you’re using library materials in your research, classroom or BBlearn, we want to make sure your usage is included in our statistics. This usage is important for us to know as we make cancellation decisions.

What is a Permalink?

A permalink is a web address that will consistently point to specific information source such as an ebook, an article, a record in the catalog, a video, or a database. 

Why Use Permalinks?

• We strongly recommend using permalinks instead of uploading articles, ebooks, etc. to BBlearn or file sharing because permalinks ensure that you are not in violation of copyright law.
• Permalinks allow the library to maintain accurate usage statistics, which ensures that we continue to purchase and renew the resources you need.
• Permalinks are a reliable means of sharing search results, and specific resources such as articles and ebooks. Copying and pasting the URL from the address field  may not take you back to that original page. Permalinks ensure that the link will take you where you want to go.

Finding the Permalink?

Select the tab on the left for instructions on how to locate the permalink in the Quick Search and select library databases.

To ensure that the links will work off-campus, they need to include the NAU library's proxy address libproxy.nau.edu somewhere in the url. To determine this:

Step 1. Look at the permalink. Does it contain NAU library's proxy url: libproxy.nau.edu (e.g  http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.nau.edu/docview/1730114326?accountid=12706 or http://libproxy.nau.edu/login?url=https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=105280&xtid=169082)

• Yes: You can use the permalink as is
• No: Add our proxy url (http://libproxy.nau.edu/login?url=) to the beginning of the permalink.

Step 2. Test the permalink from off-campus. If it doesn't work, please contact your department's librarian