Permalinks, which is short for Permanent Links, are ways that we can keep track of articles and Ebooks that we know we'll need to access later.
Permalinks for things you have access to through TAMUCC look like this:
You might be used to saving URLs from your address bar like this:
But when you're doing a search in either Bell Library's Quick Search tool or in a specific journal or database, those URLs won't guarantee you access later. When you save a permalink, you're saving a link that, similar to a DOI, is only attached to that one item.
When you click on a permalink you've saved (in a Word Doc or Google Docs, or wherever you save the research you've collected), you'll automatically be connected to that item through Bell Library's website, so when you try to access the article, all you'll need to do is provide your Island ID and Password (same as your Canvas login information), and you'll be able to access the article.
The reason we need Permalinks is so that when we're collecting articles for our research, we can save a link that will take us directly back to the article we're interested in. It saves us a few steps of copy-and-pasting that we would need to do with a DOI or a citation.
Permalinks are great for when you know you'll be doing research in several different spaces like the library, the coffee shop, and at home. All you have to do is open up the document where you've been saving permalinks and other citation information and your research notes, and with one click of the link, you'll have access to the article.
Like DOIs, you can usually find a permalink in the journal or database of the article you want to access later. Look for clues like an image of two chain links, the word "permalink" or "permanent link" or check the "export" button.
If you're researching in the library's Quick Search, you can just click the little chain links icon,
Then click the "copy" button" and paste that link wherever you're organizing your research
