Persistent links can be used to provide stable access to Horn Library's online subscription resources in your Canvas page, Syllabi, and assignment materials.
A persistent link is a URL that connects directly to a specific online resource (e.g. online article, database record, eBook, etc.). They are also known as Stable URLs, Permalinks, and Direct URLs.
Providing access to library content using persistent links is important for a couple of reasons.
1. Copyright
The main reason to use persistent links is Copyright compliance. You should never share PDFs or other static versions of library content. Providing links to our resources instead protects you and the college from copyright infringement.
For more information on acceptable use of our online resources, see our Acceptable Use Statement for Online Resources.
2. Accessibility
Persistent links will remain stable despite changes made to the resource by the publisher or creator. This means that you won't need to worry about updating the links in order for students to be able to access these materials semester-to-semester. The only exception to this is when we update our authentication system, which was last done Summer 2025. If you have not yet updated your EZ Proxy links, please do so.
Many databases also provide access to their content in multiple formats (e.g. text-to-speech, larger font sizes), so that users can adapt it to their unique learning needs.
Linking to Journal Article Databases
Most journal article database providers (e.g. EBSCO, Proquest, Elsevier, etc.) have an option and tool for creating a persistent link to individual items and search results. Look for a share button, an image of a link, text that reads "Permalink" or "Get Link", etc.
There are some exceptions, in which you will need to create a stable, shareable link using the Open Athens Link Generator. More instructions on when and how to use the Link Generator can be found on the Open Athens Authentication Guide.
Linking to Online News Articles
For most online news and other media resources, you should be able to provide the URL for access. From there, users will be able to log in via the unique login process of that resource to access the article. You should also check for additional sharing options built into each publisher's interface.
Having Trouble?
Submit a ticket using the "Need Help?" button on the lefthand side of this screen, or reach out to your Liaison Librarian for help linking to a particular resource.