A PURL, or permalink, is a link that connects directly to an article or book within the TWU Libraries system. This is an easy way to share articles or books with classmates or professors, regardless if you are on campus, or accessing from a personal device.
Copied URLs will expire after the current browser session ends, or after a period of inactivity, while a permalink or PURL is continually accessible, provided the database is still available within the TWU Libraries system. Using a permalink will ensure access to the desired article or book without having to recreate the search.
PDF distribution without permission from the database or vendor is often a violation of the contractual agreements TWU Libraries has with our vendors and publishers. Permalinks ensure that only individuals with the correct logins can access the materials. It’s the same concept as piracy of other medias such as music or movies.
A DOI number is a unique number assigned to digital published objects, such as journal articles, with no attached affiliation. Permalinks or URLs have a university or institutional affiliation attached to them, allow students access when they use their TWU login.
Each database has a different layout, but look for terms such as “share article,” “persistent link,” “document link,” “get link,” etc. This will generate a permalink to share.
DOI numbers are usually found at the beginning or end of articles, along with the publishing information. This number can be copied and used to search within the database to recall the article.
