Bring the library to your students. Use this guide to find information on how to add library resources to your Canvas course. If you are interested in adding an embedded librarian to your course email the library and we will get you set up.
NOTE: The 'Ask a Librarian' 24/7 Chat Service is available from the Help icon on the global navigation bar for Canvas.
Add a permanent link to a library resource (book, eBook, article, streaming video, or database) in Canvas that your students can access both on or off campus. Choose your library resource and follow the instructions below.
NOTE: If you cannot locate the permalink, instructions to convert the library resource URL to a persistent link and other exceptions can be found at Library Resource Permalinks.
Add a Link to a Book in Canvas:
Add a Link to an eBook in Canvas:
) from the toolbar menu, i.e. Ebsco databases, or the 'Share Link to Book' icon (
), i.e. Proquest databases.NOTE: If you cannot locate the permalink, instructions to convert the eBook URL to a persistent link and other exceptions can be found at Library Resource Permalinks.
Add a Link to an Article in Canvas:
] from the toolbar menu, i.e. Ebsco databases, the bookmark icon [ 
] , i.e. Gale databases, or select Details to view the Document URL, i.e. ProQuest databases.NOTE: If you cannot locate the permalink, instructions to convert the article URL to a persistent link and other exceptions can be found at Library Resource Permalinks.
Add a Link or Embed a Streaming Video in Canvas:
], i.e. Films on Demand and Alexander Street, or the share icon [ 
] to share the link or embed, i.e. Kanopy.NOTE: If you cannot locate the permalink or embed functions, please contact your Campus Library for assistance.
Add a Link to a Database in Canvas:
Add a link to a research guide created by librarians at NOVA to help your students find books, articles, videos, and other types of resources related to the subject or program of study.
1. Choose a subject research guide or campus/class research guide.
2. Copy the URL from the bottom of the guide
3. Use the copied link to create the research guide link in Canvas.
VPCC Library is piloting a program where embedded tutors and librarians can be added to canvas to assist with student success. A librarian added to your course will be able to provide research help to students through the Canvas inbox/conversations and create/moderate discussion boards but will not have access to student grades or SIS information.
Email the library for more information.
1. Send an email to Canvas Support requesting to add a librarian to your course.
2. Provide the following information in the body of your email:
Canvas administration has incorporated the following database apps into Canvas which allows you to embed the following database apps into your course navigation bar.
1. In the Course Navigation, click Settings.
2. Click the Navigation tab.
3. Use the drag and drop option to reorder the navigation links/apps.
4. Click the Save button.
5. Click the database link from course navigation to open the database app in Canvas.
Canvas administration has incorporated the following external library tools into Canvas which allows you to embed these library tools into your course module.
1. In the Course Module, click + to add a new item.
2. Use the pull-down menu to select Add External Tool.
3. Select the tool from the list below.
4. Click Add Item to save.
Canvas administration has incorporated the following external library tools into Canvas which allows you to search and embed selected documents or video clips into your course module.
1. In the Course Module, click + to add a new item.
2. Use the pull-down menu to select Add External Tool.
3. Select the tool from the list below.
4. A frame will open and display the searchable interface.
5. Search and browse within this frame to find the document/video clip you want to embed into your Canvas module.
6. The document display page will have a Select this document or + Add button near the top of the page. Use this button to select the document you want to embed.
7. This will return you to the Add Item form in Canvas. Scroll down and enter a meaningful Page Name.
8. For the best experience, we recommend checking the Load in new tab checkbox.
9. Click the Add Item button to complete the addition of the link.
Add Library Resources to Canvas based on material by Northern Virginia Community College and is used with permission.
Persistent links in library databases permit you to connect students directly to specific articles, books, and streaming videos without worrying about copyright restrictions. (The vendors who produce the library databases are responsible for maintaining agreements with publishers regarding copyrighted information.)
What are my options for providing reading material to my students?
When you find a worthwhile reading in a research database, you have several options as to how to make this work available to your students. Among these are making photocopies, putting a copy on reserve in the library, downloading a copy and posting in your course, or linking to the article in the database through Canvas. Issues to consider when deciding on how to make reading material available to students include not only which option would be more convenient for you and your students but also which option falls within Fair Use copyright guidelines. Providing persistent links to articles or books is a one-stop shopping option that allows the database vendor to handle the copyright issues.
What are persistent links?
Persistent links, also called PURLS (Persistent Uniform Resource Locators), stable links, or durable links, are web addresses that remain consistent and seldom change over time. For example, the VPCC library home page can always be reliably reached at https://vpcc.edu/library. However, a link to an article in one of the library’s databases could change each time you try to access it, because databases often create temporary session links at the moment you access them.
What are the advantages to providing persistent links?
Why should I use persistent links when I can simply upload an article into my course?
You can link to an article in a database or e-journal and remain copyright compliant, but you cannot always copy an article and upload it without permission. Failure to follow copyright law can result in fines for VPCC.
Another good reason is that if you link to an article, the database keeps track of how often it is being used.The librarians use this information when making decisions about journal or database cuts.Let us know the journal is important to you!
How long will a persistent link stay active?
A persistent link will remain active as long as the VPCC library or our consortiums continue to subscribe to the given database. In other cases, a database vendor may reorganize its database collections, change their domain name or lose licensing rights to certain periodicals. It is advisable to check links occasionally to make sure they are still active.
Adapted from Persistent Links & Copyright, Samford University Library and Persistant Links, Oregon State University Libraries
