Library:PURLS and the EZproxy PURL Tool
What are PURLs?
PURLS, or Persistent URLS, are links to specific web pages that remain stable over time. Many people don't know that some urls are "session-based" and only work for the duration of your search session. If you try to access a session-based url after you log-off, navigate away from the page and/or several hours later you will get an error message instead of the page you were expecting.
- To learn more see this guide to Finding Persistent URLs
What is EZproxy?
EZproxy is an authentication system which allows users to verify that they are current UBC students, faculty or staff members.
Why use it?
Most of the journals that the Library subscribes to require verification for off-campus access. Since PURLS on their own do not trigger the system to authenticate users, they won't work for anyone who is off-campus unless you add a special EZproxy prefix to the front.
- To do this simply paste your PURL into the box above and click "create." The resulting URL can now be shared with your UBC colleagues and students.
- If you do not wish to use the prepender tool above, you can paste the following prefix directly in front of your PURL (i.e. no spaces between the prefix and the PURL)
http://ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/login?url=