Databases

Linking to databases is very easy from either Databases A-Z or Database Finder. Right click on link to the database and copy the link. Then insert the link into Blackboard as an "External Link"..

Content

Here are just a few examples of how to create direct links to content in databases. If there is a database that doesn't appear below for which you would like to created links, please conent, please contact your subject specialist.

--Articles--

Provide direct links to articles, images, audio, and audiovisual records in databases. Below are some examples.

EBSCO Linking Instructions

1. Do a search in an EBSCO database (Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, etc.)
2. From the results list, click on link to the article title you are interested in.
3. Once in the article record, scroll to the bottom of the record and copy the link labelled "Persistent link to this record".
4. Insert this link as an "External Link" in Blackboard. Students will be able to access this article record from on and off campus.

JSTOR Linking Instructions

1. Do a search in JSTOR.
2. From the results list, find an article you're interested in and click on the "Article Information" associated with it.
3. From the citation provided, copy the "Stable URL".
4. For JSTOR, one addition step is necessary to enable off campus access. Combine the stable URL with this URL prefix: "https://libproxy.temple.edu:2343/login?url=". The complete URL should look like this: https://libproxy.temple.edu:2343/login?url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/3115775.
5. Insert this link as an "External Link" in Blackboard. Students will be able to access this article record from on and off campus.

--EBooks--

The easiest way to link to Temple electronic books is through Diamond, our library catalog.

Diamond Linking Instructions (for eBooks)

1. Do your search in Diamond (http://diamond.temple.edu).
2. From the results list, click into the ebook record.
3. Copy the link under "Link to Additional Content".
4. Insert this link as an "External Link" in Blackboard. This link will work from on and off campus.

--Images--

Images are no longer just for Art and Art History classes. ARTstor is an image database that contains over a half million images of art, architecture, prints, and popular culture. Linking to these high resolution images can help illuminate topics across the disciplines.

ARTstor Linking Instructions

1. Enter ARTstor and log in to your personal account.
2. Do a search in ARTstor.
3. From the results list (thumbnail view), click on the caption of the image you're interested in (from the list view, click on "Full Record").
4. An information window will pop up. Choose the "File Properties" tab.
5. Double click on the "Image URL" and copy it.
6. Add this URL prefix, :"https://libproxy.temple.edu:2343/login?url=", to enable off campus access to this image. The complete URL should look like this: https://libproxy.temple.edu:2343/login?url=http://www.artstor.org/artstor/ViewImages?id=8D1Efjk2Njs%2BPzcuFTx5TnAvX3ov&userId=hTxBezU%3D.
7. Insert this link as an "External Link" in Blackboard. Students will be able to access this article record from on and off campus.

--Audio--

Classical, jazz, rock, pop, folk, and world music are all brought to you through Temple's music databases. These are easy to link to can add a nice auditory component to your course materials.

Classical Music Library Linking Instructions

1. Browse or search to a song you're interested in.
2. Click on the link to the recording.
3. At the bottom of the recording record, click on "View static URLs".
4. A window pops up with static URLs to the entire recording, as well as individual links to each movement.
5. Add this URL prefix, "https://libproxy.temple.edu:2343/login?url=", to enable off campus access. The URL to the enire recording should look like this:
https://libproxy.temple.edu:2343/login?url=http://temple.classical.com/permalink/recording/2147494824/.
6. Insert this link as an "External Link" in Blackboard. Students will be able to access this recording from on and off campus.

Course Reserves

Add a link to your course reserves so that your students can find and access your course reserve materials easily and quickly.

Linking Instructions:

To add a link to your course reserves, watch the how-to video or follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Course Reserves page available from the library website
2. Find your course by course name or instructor name
3. Copy the URL at the top of the page
4. Insert the link as an "External Link" in your Blackboard course site

Saved Searches

Diamond Saved Searches Linking Instructions

A saved search is a link that will rerun a search each time it is clicked. This is a good way to provide your students with a list of relevant sources for an assignment or research topic.

1. Do a search in Diamond.
2. Copy the URL from the results list. This search will work from on or off campus.

EBSCO Saved Search Instructions

1. Do a search in an EBSCO database.
2. From the results list, click on "Alert / Save / Share " at top right of results list.
3. A URL will appear below the link. Copy the URL. This search will work on or off campus.
4. Add this as an "External Link" in Blackboard.

EBSCO RSS Feed Instructions

1. Do a search.
2. From the results list, click on "Alert / Save / Share " at top right of results list.
3. A box will appear with alert information. Copy the "Syndicated feed".
4. Paste link into an RSS reader of your choice.

RefWorks Bibliographies

RefShare makes it very easy to share RefWorks bibliographies, either as a direct link to a bibliography, or as an RSS feed.

RefShare Linking Instructions

1. Create a bibliography in RefWorks.
2. From the "Tools" menu, select the "Share References" option. This will bring you to a list of all your RefWorks bibliographies.
3. Click the "Options" button of the bibliography you want to share, which brings you to Shared Folder Options.
4. If you want to create an RSS feed, select those options. If you want your bibliography to show up on Temple's RefShare page, click the box at the bottom and select a category.
5. Click Save to make your bibliography available in RefShare. The URL to the bibliography appears at the top of the page. Your bibliography will be available to anyone, on or off campus.

Other Tools & Services

Here is a short list of links to important tools and services you might want to include in your Blackboard course.

Databases A-Z
Alphabetical list of all the library's databases.

Database Finder
Search for a database by keyword, or view a subject category of databases.

Find Full-Text by Citation
If students have a citation, they can use this form to find the complete article.

Journal Finder
Lookup tool for finding print or online journals at Temple.

Multisearch
Allows you to search across multiple databases simultaneously, i.e. anthropology databases, music databases, etc.

Cite Sources // Refworks
Cite Sources is a help page provided by the library. Refworks is the library's free citation management tool.

Ask A Librarian
Describes the many different ways students can get help from a librarian.

How do I find articles?
One of the most frequent questions students pose at the Reference Desk.

How do I find books?
Another frequent question at the Reference Desk.

Subject Guides & Course Guides

Embed a subject guide or course guide into Blackboard so your students can access disciplinary resources.

1. From the Subject Guides page, choose a subject guide or course guide and copy its URL.
2. In your Blackboard course, click on "Control Panel".
3. Click on "Manage Course Menu".
4. At top of page, click on "External Link".
5. Under "Add New Area", fill in the name of the link (this will appear on the left hand menu of your Blackboard course). Then insert the URL and press "Submit". The subject guide will now open up when you click on the left hand menu item.

Diamond Search Box

Embed a Diamond search box so that your students can search the library catalog for books and more. To add a search box, watch the how to video or follow the steps below:

1. Copy the following HTML code:

<fieldset class="box_heading"><legend id="searchlegend"><strong>Diamond: The Libraries' Catalog Search (Books and More)</strong></legend><p></p><form action="http://diamond.temple.edu/search/X" method="get" name="srchX_form"
style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><input maxlength="120" name="SEARCH" size="40" type="text" value="" />
<input type="submit" value="Search" /></form></fieldset>

2. In your Blackboard course site, select "Course Panel"
3. Select "External Links," and then select "Add Item"
4. select < > ("toggle HTML source mode") button in the editor toolbar
5. Paste the HTML code and select Submit

Chat Widgets

Embed an Ask A Librarian chat box so that your students can chat live with a librarian when they have library-related questions and receive immediate help. To add a chat box, watch the how to video or follow the steps below:

1. Copy the following HTML code:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/aim/web-aim/aimapi.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">AIM.util.createStyleSheet("http://o.aolcdn.com/aim/wimzi/snowdust_standard.css");</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/aim/web-aim/wimzi.js"></script><div id="wimziContainer" wimzi_key="as1lhKjaKo5Mui2b"></div>

2. Create a new Content Area in your Blackboard course site
3. Select "Add Item," and then select < > ("toggle HTML source mode") button in the editor toolbar
4. Paste the HTML code and select Submit