Web Guidelines: MIT Libraries

Shortcut URLs

Always use our shortcut URLs instead of the actual URL whenever you make a link to one of these pages (or when you refer to the page in a printed brochure, poster, or hand-out).

You will never have to update the link -- we will keep them up to date behind the scenes.

General shortcuts (public list)

The following list of general shortcuts covers most of the primary pages that people will want to link to. We have made this list available to the public (such as webmasters of other departments at MIT), so that they won't need to update their links when we move a page.

General shortcuts

Vera database shortcuts ("get URLs" and "info URLs")

1. There is a "get URL" for each database in Vera. For example,
http://libraries.mit.edu/get/worldcat

The get URL is listed after each database name in the A-Z list of databases in Vera:
http://libraries.mit.edu/databases

Use these to link to databases from other pages on our web site, including LibGuides pages.

2. As of summer 2008, we also have "info URLs" for each database in Vera. These link to the complete metadata about each database in our A-Z list, for example:
http://libraries.mit.edu/info/compendex

Database info links - how to create - instructions for how to create an info link

Info URLs for Vera databases - the list of what they are

Barton shortcuts

Use these to link to specific search screens in barton.

Basic Search Screen: http://libraries.mit.edu/barton
Advanced Search Screen: http://libraries.mit.edu/barton-advanced
Journals Search Screen: http://libraries.mit.edu/barton-journals
Conferences Search Screen: http://libraries.mit.edu/barton-conferences
Theses Search Screen: http://libraries.mit.edu/barton-theses
Course Reserves: http://libraries.mit.edu/barton-reserves
Your account: http://libraries.mit.edu/barton-account

Other shortcuts (behind-the-scenes)

We have other shortcut URLs that we have preserved from the past, so that they will always work, such as:

http://libraries.mit.edu/databases

...which now points to the same place as:

http://libraries.mit.edu/vera

There are also special shortcuts for each queue into the "Ask Us! — live" service. The Web Manager has details about these if you need to know.

If you know of other pages that could use a shortcut, email Marion Leeds Carroll. (mlcar@mit.edu)
When to use a shortcut:

• if the URL is long and complex (such as a Vera URL, or a proxy server URL)
• if the page is often publicized in printed brochures, posters, or other print publications