Explore how to use Archer Library resources in your online course. Here you will find steps for locating and using database articles, identifying and creating permalinks for articles, information concerning copyright and library databases, and differences between DOI and permalinks. Work through the content from left to right, or choose a topic that is of interest to you.
Contact a librarian for help locating items in our collections for your online course. Use the drop-down tab on this page to locate your liaison librarian, email the library at library@ashland.edu, or make an appointment using our online help form.
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Archer LibraryAccess the A to Z Database List on Archer Library's home page. Directly below the OpenSearch box is a collection of Library Resource links; choose Databases to view the A to Z List. |
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A to Z DatabasesThere are currently 215 available resources on Archer Library's A to Z Databases list. Entries are listed in alphabetical order. It is possible to manage the list using one of the three drop down menus located at the top of the page. Choose to limit results by Subject, Database type, and Vendor / Provider, or use the search box.
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Database TypesIf looking for a specific information or resource type (e.g., database or OA), there are seven categories. One category is eBook Collections. To view this collection, select it from the drop down menu. We currently have 28 eBook Collections available to use. Click the clear filters / Browse All Databases button to return to the unfiltered listing. |
Yes! It is possible to share articles found in Archer Library databases in Blackboard Learn courses. To do so, you need a permalink, or persistent link to the item accompanied by AU's proxy URL. It is simpler than it sounds. In most cases, the database will do the work for you. Below are three examples for locating permalinks. Note that you can click on the image to enlarge for viewing.
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Search Results: EBSCOInterested in sharing search results with your students? EBSCO databases provide easy access to a permalink that will direct users to a search. They will be able to see terms selected and further limit and manage the search. How? Select share, located next to page options, and copy the permalink - as is - to your course. Click here to see the example search. |
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Article Permalink: EBSCOInterested in sharing a specific article with your students? Locate the article, then select permalink from the tools menu. The permalink will display above the article title. Copy and paste the article link into your course. Click here to view the article. AU's proxy URL is included with EBSCO database permalinks. Authentication (username + password) is needed for off-campus access. |
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Article Permalink: OhioLINKInterested in an EJC article? It is possible to link directly to resources in EJC; permalinks are provided with articles. However, AU's proxy URL is not automatically added to OL resources. What is the proxy? It is a link that let's OL know your student has rights to view the database article. Add AU's proxy to the front of the permalink http://proxy.ashland.edu:2048/login?url=
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Yes! It is possible to share eBooks, even specific chapters in most cases, found in Archer Library eBook Collections and databases in Blackboard Learn courses. As with articles, you need a permalink, or persistent link to the book or chapter accompanied by AU's proxy URL. In most cases, the database will do the work for you.
Below are three examples for locating eBook permalinks. Note that you can click on the image to enlarge for viewing.
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eBook Academic CollectionA search for OA returned the following title: The Future of Scholarly Publishing: Open Access and the Economics of Digitization. It is possible to link to the title by selecting the permalink, then copy and paste. For a chapter, navigate to a chapter, in this example chapter 2, section 2.1, on page 140, and select permalink from the top menu. |
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Cambridge CoreA search for OA, limited to content AU has access to and books, returned: International Copyright & Access to Knowledge. It is possible to link to the title by copying the DOI and adding AU's proxy to the URL. If interested in a specific chapter, choose it from the list and copy the DOI, then add the proxy. Format options to view are provided. http://proxy.ashland.edu:2048/login?url= |
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OhioLINK EBCA search for OA, limited to content books published no earlier than 2015 returned: Copyright Versus Open Access. It is possible to link to the title. Select the share button, copy the URL, and add AU's proxy. If interested in a specific chapter, choose one from the list and use the share button for the link and add AU's proxy to the front of the URL. http://proxy.ashland.edu:2048/login?url=
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This section focuses on locating and linking resources in your course. Why? Because it is permissible to add database resources, such as journal articles and ebooks, in this manner. Students are directed to access the item for individual use. Each student may choose to print, download, or save the resource - again - for individual use.
Professors should NOT download an item then subsequently upload it into their course. Publishers provide this information on the final page of articles. Below are two examples of this statement:
OhioLINK EBC & Cambridge Core have similar policies. Books contain license statements indicating they are provided by the platform for specific use and fall under copyright protection.
OhioLINK EBC accessible use statement covers permitted and prohibited use of their content. "Among the prohibited use is the statement that "you may not reproduce, or distribute any Anthology or any content from Anthology" (OhioLINK Legal, 2021).
Cambridge Core includes materials with different usage permission. Take time to review their legal notice prior to use, even for Open Access and Creative Commons resources. They also specify that users may not "otherwise download, store, reproduce, transmit, display, print, copy, distribute, extract, exploit or use the content" (Cambridge Core, 2021), or "make available any content in any other form or medium" (Cambridge Core, 2021) without written consent.
DOI, or Digital Object Identifier, is a unique string of letters and numbers assigned to an article, document, or other resource (the object). The DOI link, often provided with citations, is a "default URL value which is provided from a DOI name" (DOI Handbook, 2016, Glossary). The DOI "provides an actionable, interoperable, persistent link" (DOI Factsheet, 2021), it is often used when citing database articles. Publishers register articles with a DOI Registration Agency resulting in a DOI name and URL being assigned.
Good question; the answer depends on usage purpose. When adding a library database article link to your course, use the permalink generated by the database. It includes proxy information that permits your student to access the resource on or off campus (authentication required). Students citing a database article should use the DOI provided.
Can I use the DOI in my course? The DOI will most often take users to the publisher's website (they are the DOI requestor) and their copy of the article. There is no guarantee of full-text access from the publisher site; students may be prompted to pay for a download. So, yes, you can use the DOI URL in your course. But, you can not be sure free or full-text access is available.
DOI's are often found with a journal articles identifying information, such as ISSN or accession numbers. When using library databases, there are two quick ways to locate an article DOI: (1) the articles detailed record, and (2) the citation record generated by the database.
A closer look at the article Implementing Open Educational Resources in Digital Education, illustrates the two places a DOI is provided within EBSCO's Academic Search Complete.
(1) Article Record |
(2) Article Citation |
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Interested in learning more about Digital Object Identifiers? Here are a few resources:
It is a link that let's Archer library databases know your student has rights to view the resource selected. It provides secure, authenticated access to proprietary database content.
When working off campus, students will see the library's login screen and be prompted to enter their AU username and password, similar to when using Blackboard or their AU email. If on campus, access will be seamless.
If students experience problems with off-campus database authentication, they should contact the library for help. We are often able to trouble-shoot access issues.
No. If you are using any of the EBSCOhost databases, their permalink option automatically provides the correct access URL with the proxy included. Most often, OhioLINK resources will require use of the proxy.
Review the URL copied from the database (article or ebook) prior to publishing it in Blackboard. If the the link begins with http://proxy.ashland.edu, all should be well.
Adding the proxy is easy! Simply place the URL directly in front of your link. Let's look at the article, Library Web Proxy Use Survey Results, by Peter Murray.
Without proxy: On campus use only
With proxy: On and off-campus
Without the proxy, users can only view while on campus. However, the second link will work for off-campus users once they have authenticated.
Feel free to contact a librarian for help configuring a link to database resources.