Creating Web Links in Blackboard to Library Database Materials Using EZProxy
Links to web sites outside Blackboard, including links to items in the library databases, can be added to Blackboard Content Areas, such as Course Information, Course Documents, or Assignments. In order for students to access library content off-campus, students need to use either VPN software, or need to use “EZPRoxy” to establish their Duke affiliation via NetID. The Library System prefers to recommend use of EZProxy; therefore, our documentation will demonstrate this approach.The general process used to link to library resources directly from Bb is as follows:
- Obtain the permanent URL for the library resource item from the web (if you have questions about how to do this, contact the Perkins Reference Desk for help).
- Use the permanent URL, with a segment of special “code” inserted before it, to create a link in your Bb site to the materials you want students to view
- One method for doing this is by adding an External Link , which is a simple way to create a link.
- Another method is to enter the URL in a Text Box, embedded within contextual information.
This document will explain the process for creating the links in Bb (#2 above), once you already have the appropriate URL to the resource.
Option A: Adding an External Link
Follow the steps below to add a link to a Content Area:
- Open a Content Area, such as Course Documents, from the Control Panel.
- Select add External Link from the action bar.
- Fill in the following fields:
- Name (required): a meaningful name for the web link. The name will be clickable to the web site.
- URL (required): when entering or copying and pasting a URL, always use the full web address, for example, http://cit.duke.edu , not cit.duke.edu. Paste the permanent URL to the library resource here.
- Paste the required EZProxy code ( http://proxy.lib.duke.edu:2048/login?url=) BEFORE the permanent URL. **The total number of characters for the URL must be less than 250.**
- Text (optional field to describe the web link).
- Click Submit.
Option B: Entering a URL in a Text Box (Firefox, Safari, Mac IE)
If you would like to have a link to a library resource embedded within contextual information, or make a phrase linkable within a text box, follow the steps below:
- Open a Content Area, such as Course Documents, from the Control Panel.
- Choose add Item from the action bar.
- Enter a title for the item
- In the Text Box, with Smart Text option selected at bottom, enter your desired text and then enter the following code where you wish to include a link to the library resource:
<a href="EZProxy code+full URL">Linkable text</a>
Example:
This will create the phrase “Read this required article before class,” which will be a link to the library resource you have specified.
5. Click Submit
NOTE: For PC Internet Explorer users (version 5.x-6.x only)
Blackboard's Visual Text Box Editor allows users to modify content in an interface resembling a word processor, and perform basic HTML functions without knowledge of any HTML. Type the text you wish to link, highlight the phrase, click on the Hyperlink tool and a Hyperlink window appears. Enter or copy and paste the full permanent URL into the URL field, paste the EZProxy code in front of the URL, and click Submit.
