Add library resources in myCourses

Owned by Joana Kort Mascort
Mar 18, 2024
3 min read

The McGill Library provides a vast array of additional access points to teaching and learning content and research materials, including over 50,000 e-journal titles and 2 million eBooks. Material can be linked in the Content tool. 

This article describes how to create links to Library databases, articles, eBooks, and other resources. Links to these materials can be added to myCourses in Modules and Units/Lessons/Folders. Most of these links open as external resources (i.e., open in a new tab) and will require students to enter their McGill credentials.

In this article:

1 Create a link to an article or eBook in WorldCat Discovery | 2 Create a link to a database | 3 Create a link to an article

Create a link to an article or eBook in WorldCat Discovery

  1. Find the record for the item in WorldCat Discovery.

  2. In the full record display, click on Link in the bottom right-hand corner. For example, the link for A People’s History of Quebec is: https://mcgill.on.worldcat.org/oclc/426221935.

  3. Copy the link and follow the instructions to Create Links and Embed Content in myCourses, with the option to “Open as External Resource” (current Content Experience) or “Open in a new tab” (new Content Experience).

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Create a link to a database

There are two recommended methods for linking to the Library’s online databases, article indexes, and web resources: linking directly to the resource with the EZproxy prefix for paid resources or linking to the stable URL (permanent link) for the resource’s bibliographic record in WorldCat Discovery.

Link directly to a resource:

  1. Look up the database in the Databases A-Z list. Right click on the database title and copy the link address. The link should already have the EZproxy prefix when necessary. For example, this Compendex link shows “proxy” in the URL: https://proxy.library.mcgill.ca/login?url=http://www.engineeringvillage.com/controller/servlet/Controller?CID=quickSearch&database=1

  2. Copy the link and follow the instructions to Create Links and Embed Content in myCourses, with the option to “Open as External Resource” (current Content Experience) or “Open in a new tab” (new Content Experience).

Link to the Worldcat Discovery resource record:

  1. Find the bibliographic record for the resource in WorldCat Discovery under “Website” in the format facets.

  2. In the full record display, click Link in the bottom right-hand corner of the results page.

  3. Copy the link and follow the instructions to Create Links and Embed Content in myCourses, with the option to “Open as External Resource” (current Content Experience) or “Open in a new tab” (new Content Experience).

 

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Create a link to an article

Many of the Library’s full-text article databases provide permanent link capabilities. Unfortunately, publishers and aggregators create permanent links in different ways, so is not always a simple matter of copying the URL when viewing an article online.

Create links using a DOI (Digital Object Identifier)

The most frequently used permanent link is the DOI. Similar to ISSNs or ISBNs, a DOI is a standardized method for identifying an electronic object. Publishers are increasingly using DOIs to assign a unique identity to each article, book chapter, or other “object” in their databases. Look for the DOI or “doi:” in the bibliographic record or the article full text page.

  1. Copy the DOI provided with the article.

  2. Insert the following prefix: https://proxy.library.mcgill.ca/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/.

  3. Paste the DOI after the prefix.

  4. Follow the instructions to Create Links and Embed Content in myCourses.

  5. Select the option to “Open as External Resource” (current Content Experience) or “Open in a new tab” (new Content Experience), then click Create.

For example, if the DOI for your document is doi:10.1016/j.jinteco.2004.07.002, then the hyperlink would be https://proxy.library.mcgill.ca/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2004.07.002

A form which allows you to retrieve DOIs for journal articles, books, and chapters by cutting and pasting the reference is available at http://www.crossref.org/freeTextQuery/

Create links using a PPURL/PURL (Publisher Permanent Link)

Some publishers and database providers provide their own permanent links to resources that can often be found with the citation information for the article. Carefully examine the bibliographic record and look for clues as to the type of link, such as “permanent link to this record,” “stable URL,” “durable link,” “jump start,” and “linking options for this record.” 

  1. Copy the PPURL/PURL provided with the article.

  2. Insert the following prefix: https://proxy.library.mcgill.ca/login?url=

  3. Paste the PPURL/PURL after the prefix.

  4. Follow the instructions to Create Links and Embed Content in myCourses.

  5. Select the the option to “Open as External Resource” (current Content Experience) or “Open in a new tab” (new Content Experience), then click Create.

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