See also Persistent Links to UPEI Databases for instructions on linking to particular articles rather than entire search result sets.
In most library databases, you can NOT just copy the URL in the address bar at the top of your web browser to get back to the same search results later. That URL is session-specific and will not work later.
Databases in which that will work later include:
- Catalogue - the Library's "Evergreen" catalogue system
- Google Scholar
Some databases offer a specific way to save your entire search strategy as a URL for later retrieval.
Proquest
To find the persistent link after doing a search:
1. look at the very top where it gives you a link to your "recent searches". Click on it.
2. find the search that you want the persistent link to, and click on the "Actions" pulldown at the far right of it
3. select "get link" and then the copy button - you do NOT need to mouse-select the link - the gold Copy button will paste the entire link into your clipboard for you without struggling to select it.
Note that the link uses an internal code number for the search, so you can't see the actual search terms embedded in the link.
Here is a sample:
https://proxy.library.upei.ca/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/sear…
These links have a life of about 1 year.
EBSCOHost and OneSearch
1. Click on "Share" (top right directly above the search results)
2. Use your mouse and ctl-c (cmd-c for Macs) to copy the very long "permalink" URL. The link is long because it includes your search terms in it, e.g.
https://proxy.library.upei.ca/login?qurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ebscohost…
Important note: EBSCO Permalinks will only include some of the limiters you've applied, so you should be prepared to re-apply some after using the link.
All limiters that are found in the "Limit to" box including its "show more" options are preserved, such as: date range, peer-reviewed, full text, discipline selections, language
All of the limiters below that will be lost, such as "Source Type", Subjects, Geography, and "Databases Included".
If you turned OFF the expander (which is on by default) to "Also search within the full text" you will find that selection is lost and the expander is ON in your linked search.
Gale
The Gale Infotrac databases use a feature labelled "bookmark" to provide persistent links. You will find the Bookmark tool near the very top of the result page, to the right of the search box.