This tab goes over different ways to organize and save your research. Please keep in mind that where a permalink is in a database may vary depending on the database used.
Method |
Purpose |
Advantages |
Limitations / Recommendations |
Linking to a Specific Database |
Provide direct access to a database’s interface for searching/browsing |
Directly opens the database platform, which can streamline access to its resources and tools |
The link takes you to the database's homepage (or login page) rather than specific content; may require authentication or additional navigation to locate desired material |
Saving Search Links |
Save a collection of search results for later review |
Quick way to preserve your search strategy and revisit multiple results |
Results may change over time as new material is added; best for tracking your search process rather than for saving specific articles |
Saving Individual Articles/Linking to a Specific Ebook |
Save a specific article/ebook for precise future reference |
Ensures you access the exact article/ebook intended |
Look for a Share option or Permalink. Also, it is a good habit to save the citation information for the article/ebook, too, in case the link does not work. |
If you would like to link to a specific database, use the share option on our Databases A-Z page.
How to link to search results differs depending on the database you are using. Here are some examples for popular databases. Note: Saving the link at the top of the browser will not work for all databases. It is a good idea to also save how you did your search. Here is one way:
Date: (this is the date you ran the search)
Number of Results: (how many sources were retrieved)
Search Phrase: (what terms did you search, e.g. cats AND companionship)
Limits Applied: (what limits did you apply, if any. e.g. full text, peer reviewed, a date limit)
Database Used: (What database did you use, e.g. Academic Search Complete, Business Source Complete, CINAHL)
Permalink to Search: (copy and paste the link to the search results here)
EBSCO databases
For EBSCO databases, after searching you can get the permalink to the search by copying and saving the link at the top of the browser.
Gale databases
For Gale databases, click on the "Get Link" tool at the top of the page to save the search results.
ProQuest databases
For ProQuest databases, click on the "Save search" dropdown and then click on "Get Search Link" to get a permalink to the search results.
Catalog
It is also possible to save a search from the catalog. After you conduct your search, click on the QR code in the upper right of the screen. Then you can either copy the link or take a picture of the QR code.
If you would like to place a journal, magazine, or newspaper article link in Canvas, use the persistent link option in the database where you found the article.
Each database may have a different way of providing the permalink. In most instances, it will be listed under the "Tools" or "Share" option.
Sometimes you can find a permalink by using the citation generator that is located within the database.
To link to a specific ebook, use the permalink provided by the catalog.
Step 1: Use the library catalog to find your specific title.
Step 2: Click on the link under "Full text availability" to view the ebook
Step 3: When viewing the ebook, click Share Link to Book