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Library Database Permalink Guide: DOI's

DOI's are confusing

DOI = Digital Object Identifier. It's sort of like and ISBN number for a peer reviewed article. It doesn't in any way guarantee that you have full text access. Most DOI's don't provide full text access. They are formatted like URL's, and you do need to use them in your citations. But, don't use DOI's as the live links for articles or you will probably direct students to a non-full text page with just a citation and abstract, even though we do have full text access through a database.

This citation has a DOI at the end, but don't use that as the live link for the article, use the permalink.

You would still use the permalink for the live link, even though you have to use the DOI in your citation.