Library Resources: A Blackboard Tool

Importing the Library Resources Tool

1. Open a Blackboard course without the Library Resources Tool.
2. Click on the Control Panel and then click Manage Course.
3. Choose Import Content and then choose Import a Content Package.
4. Enter a title such as Library Resources.
5. Browse to Blackboard-files and locate and open the Samford-files folder.
6. Select LibraryResources.zip and click Add selected.
7. Select Blackboard as the package type.
8. Decide where to show the link. We recommend on the Course Menu as well as on the Home Page.
9. Choose Custom Icon. Use the Browse button to select LibraryResourceLogo. gif. It is also in the Samford-files folder. Then click Add selected.
10. Click Import and then click Done.

Adding customized links to the Library Resources Tool

To add a customized link to the Library Resources Tool:
1. Open the Library Resources tool in Designer View.
2. Click on one of the existing links (e.g. Samford Libraries Catalog).
3. Click on Edit file.
4. Copy entire contents of the file (We will use this as a template for our new link).
5. Click Cancel to leave this file. Then use the bread crumbs near the top of the page to return to the Library Resources tool.
6. On the right-hand menu, click the Create and edit HTML file button.
7. Delete any code already in the box and paste the copied file contents into this new file.
8. Give the file a name (e.g. history.html - Don't forget the .html part).
9. In the code you just pasted, change the URL to the new place you would like it to link to (e.g. Samford Libraries Catalog's URL is http://library.samford.edu/catalog/ to link to history resources I will change this URL to http://library.samford.
edu/topics/history.html.)
10. Look for the title tags (i.e. title and /title in brackets) and change the words between them to the title you want your students to see for this link (e.g. Change Samford Libraries Catalog to History Resources).
11. Click the Add button.
12. This will return you to the Library Resources Tool where your new link should be last on the list. Feel free to move the this link anywhere you like in the list or maybe add a heading to organize your links.
13. Be sure to Update Student View so your students can see your changes.

What are Persistent Links?
Persistent links are URLs or web addresses that are provided by either the library or the content provider in order to allow users to link directly to the level of content they desire. The library provides persistent links to almost all of its online resources (databases, e-journals, etc.) and the databases or e-journal providers often provide persistent links to individual articles or materials within the database or e-journal.

Linking to databases
To find the persistent link for a specific database or online resource, simply mouse over the database or resource you are interested in and either write down the URL that appears in the lower left hand corner of the screen or right-click on the link and choose Copy Shortcut from the menu. This will copy the URL to be pasted wherever you need.

Linking to articles within databases, e-journals and e-books*
In databases the persistent link is usually on the page for the individual article or book. To see more about how to find persistent links online articles and books check out Add links to online readings.

Using persistent links in other Blackboard tools
Persistent links to databases and online readings can be added to other Blackboard tools. To see more about adding these links to other Blackboard tools check out this short interactive tutorial.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: In order for a persistent link to a Samford Library resource to work from off-campus be sure that the URL contains the Samford address (http://ezproxy.samford.edu). Some databases offer a persistent link or stable URL that does not include the Samford address. JSTOR is a perfect example. It starts its persistent links off with http://links.jstor.org/. In order to be accessible from off campus, this URL needs to have this information added to the beginning of the URL - https://ezproxy.samford.edu/login?url=. A full persistent link to an article in JSTOR would look like this https://ezproxy.samford.edu/login?url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0029-0564%28197512%2930%3A3%3C421%3AJAA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-U .

Many databases automatically put in the Samford information for you, but, when in doubt, add the Samford information to the beginning of the URL or ask a librarian for assistance.