BUSN - Persistent Links

Creating Persistent URLs for Electronic Resources

What is a persistent URL (purl)?
A persistent link is a URL that will remain stable over time and allows a user to access the linked document later. A purl is an intermediate page that redirects to the actual URL in its current location.

Why use a purl instead of the address from the browser address bar?
URLs that appear in the address bar of your web browser may contain session-based or search-based information that causes the URL to not work later. This is especially true of the URLs that appear when searching a database. This is why many online databases provide a separate persistent or stable link.

How to determine the permissions granted for databases or specific journals:

Access the Database of Licensing Information to determine rights available from electronic resources housed in U of C Libraries and Cultural Resources. The database will allow you to instantly determine the license information for each electronic resource.

This is an example of the permissions information you might see in the Database of Licensing Information:

To determine permissions for a journal:

Click Research - Journals - All Journals - Input journal title

Click on the title and click “Show License” to see license options