Creating Persistent or Durable URLs in Blackboard Vista

What are they?

When you locate the full text of an article in a research database, you have various options for saving the article and for posting in Blackboard Vista, depending on the particular database and vendor:

“Save as PDF” and “Save as HTML” both save the article as a document that can then be placed in the Blackboard Vista file manager.

“Save a persistent or durable URL” means that the databases search produces a specific URL that links directly to the desired article.  This URL can be copied and pasted into the Blackboard Vista site.  It generates a specific search in the database, directing the user to the selected article.

Advantages of using persistent URLs

  • Requires no storage space on Blackboard Vista server.
  • Can be viewed from any computer with web browser, even without Adobe Acrobat reader.
  • Retrieves the article in its original form, with any built in links or tools provided by vendor.
  • Students learn to recognize the database from which the article came; helps the student appreciate the value of the database in future research.

Caution

If Blackboard Vista is accessed from off-campus, the persistent URL will not link unless the user authenticates through the proxy server.  The proxy server prefix (see below) must be added to the persistent URL in order to allow the student to log in to the proxy server to retrieve the article.

How to use persistent URLs in Blackboard Vista

  • Search in the desired database and identify the article you want to post in Blackboard Vista.  Examine the citation record and locate the persistent URL.  Highlight and copy the entire URL (some of them are very long!)  If there is no persistent URL for this record, try this alternative method:
    • Look for a “FindIT” link in the record.  Click on the “FindIT” button.  If an electronic full text source is available, link to the article.  Open the full text view of the article.  The URL that appears in the address box can be used as a persistent URL.
  • Open the Blackboard Vista site. From the Course Tools menu open “Web Links”, click “Create Web Link”.  Paste the durable URL into the box.
  • Copy this prefix: href="http://proxy.bc.edu/login?url="title="http://proxy.bc.edu/login?url=">http://proxy.bc.edu/login?url=
  • Paste the prefix in front of the durable URL that you have pasted into the URL box.  Do not delete the http:// from the persistent URL.
  • Continue with posting the URL on an organizer page in the usual way.
  • Durable URLs can also be posted in the calendar tool, in content modules, and in other locations in a Blackboard Vista site.

Databases from BC Libraries that create persistent URLs

  • JSTOR, ArtSTOR
  • The “EbscoHost” databases
  • Alt-HealthWatch
  • ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Business Source Premier
  • Communication & mass media complete
  • Information science and technology abstracts
  • Regional Business News
  • All Gale databases, including these and others:
    • Expanded Academic Index
    • Health Center
    • General Business File
  • International Index to Music Periodicals, American Film Institute Catalog, International Index to the Performing Arts,  Acta Sanctorum Early English Books Online (EEBO).

If you encounter difficulties or would like further information, please contact eteach@bc.edu.