About the Database List
This tab will help you build your list of databases using the database tool in LibGuides.
It will be very advantageous for you to spend a little time cleaning up your database lists. If you use the method described below, you will be mapping your links to the main database list in LibGuides. If the URL for a database changes, we will change it in the master list and it will automatically change in all guides that are using that link.
Even more important, if you use the links from the database link the system will automatically add the proxy server prefix to the URLs. Users who are on-campus will be passed right through when they click on the link, but those who are off campus will be routed through the proxy server login screen before they go to the database. You don't have to maintain both on-campus and off-campus links anymore.
This will make it much easier for you to maintain database links in your guides!
Sample Database List
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Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new windowAlthough it's our local best practice not to include descriptions with databases, you can include your own concise, 1-2 sentence description underneath the link if necessary. I entered a custom description when I put this link in the list.
NOTE
You can mix and match the links in a content box. You can mix links from the database list, with links to websites, with PDFs, etc. They can all go in the same content box now. You can reorder all the links in the content box very easily.
Adding a Database Link
Click on the Add/Reorder button at the bottom of your box, and select “Database."
- Enter at least the first 3 letters of the database name in the Search for Database box until you find the one you want. Select the database from the list to add the link.
- Click on the edit button (pencil icon) next to that database link.
- Under Description Display, select Do Not Display. If a description is necessary for your users, create your own concise 1-2 sentence description to display underneath the title.
- Go back to the Add/Reorder button and select Rich Text/HTML.
- Add this text: "For a full list of databases relating to this subject, including their descriptions, please go to A-Z Databases."
- Depending on the nature of your guide, you may wish to link only to the databases in your subject area(s). You can do this by selecting subject areas (you can choose more than one) in the A-Z list, clicking Search, and copying the resulting URL.
- Save and click the Add/Reorder button once more to move this text to the top of the box.
- Important: ALWAYS use these steps when adding a link to a database that we have in the database list! By doing so, you no longer need to worry about updating these links if the database URL changes. We will update the link in the master list and it will automatically update the links on all associated guides.
- Off-Campus Access: There is no need to offer “on-campus” and “off-campus” links separately to our subscription databases. If you use the links from the LibGuides database assets list in your guides, the system will automatically provide a proxied link to the database. When users click on the links, off-campus users will be routed through the proxy login screen, while those that are on-campus will be routed through to the database without having to log in.