The library has print content, online resources, streaming video, and primary sources that we encourage instructors to use in their courses. By using library-provided or open content, you'll save students the cost of expensive textbooks.
To learn more about open educational resources (customizable and free to download, print, copy, and share), contact open education librarian Cheryl (Cuillier) Casey.
Accessing content online
Whether on or off campus, sign in to your library account to see the most complete set of results. Signing in also lets you:
- Request holds
- Keep track of resources you’ve found for future use
- Save search criteria
- Set up alerts to notify you when we get new material matching your search criteria
When off campus, you'll be prompted to sign in with your UA NetID and password to access library content. Or you can download Virtual Private Network (VPN), free for students and instructors. The VPN provides a secure connection with the UA network. It requires UA NetID+ Two-Factor Authentication, providing another layer of security.
Can't connect? See connecting to library resources for common problems and solutions, or contact us.
Finding course materials
Books
The library doesn't have textbook reserves, but we do offer some print materials on our required readings shelf.
To search for books:
- Go to Advanced search
- Type in your author, title, or keywords
- Limit Material Type to Books
- Select Search
From your search results, filter to Available in the Library for print books.
Articles
To search for articles:
- Go to Advanced search
- Type in your author, title, or keywords
- Limit Material Type to Articles
- Select Search
You can also use relevant subject guides and recommended databases in your field to find articles.
Streaming video
The library provides dozens of film databases for course use. We also have DVDs for in-class viewings. Learn more about streaming video for course use and how to show video clips in your class.
You can also host film screenings on campus.
To search for specific video titles in library search:
- Go to Advanced search
- Type the title of the video in the search box
- Change the Any field drop-down menu to Title
- Select Search
- Look for a result with Audio Visual as the material type. DVDs are listed separately from streaming video. For streaming video, look for the green Available online > link.
Not all Kanopy films have been added to library search, so you’ll need to search the Kanopy Streaming Video database directly.
Each term you plan to use videos in a course, submit a request using the library's online form. Streaming video often can't be purchased outright and must be licensed annually by the library, so we need to know if it will continue to be used in courses before extending the license. To learn more, read about video streaming.
Other resources
Can't find what you need? Ask us for help or contact your librarian. You can also request materials through interlibrary loan or document delivery.
How to add materials to your course site
To get a link to course materials using library search:
- Find the content and select the green "Available online" link. This will take you to the item in its database.
- Look for a link titled "Permalink," "Copy link," or "Copy direct link"
- Selecting that link will usually copy the URL to your clipboard. Otherwise, you can highlight and copy the URL.
- Paste the URL into our ezproxy tool. This will add an ezproxy prefix to the URL, making access from off campus much easier. (Note: Only use the ezproxy tool with the direct link to the content, not the PERMALINK from the library search page [which starts with https://arizona-primo.hosted]. Adding an ezproxy prefix to library search's PERMALINK will result in a security warning error.)
- Paste the URL generated by the ezproxy tool in your course site
- If you need help creating a URL or can't get a URL to work off campus, contact your librarian
Permalinks are often really long. Shorten your links through TinyURL or Bitly if you need to display a permalink in your syllabus or elsewhere.
If you're using a library database, how you find and get a link to course materials varies:
- Find the content and go to the full version of the article, ebook, or video
- Look for a link titled "Permalink," "Copy link," or "Copy direct link"
- Selecting that link will usually copy the URL to your clipboard. Otherwise, you can highlight and copy the URL.
- Paste the URL into our ezproxy tool. This will add an ezproxy prefix to the URL, making access from off campus much easier. (Note: Only use the ezproxy tool with the direct link to the content, not the PERMALINK from the library search page [which starts with https://arizona-primo.hosted]. Adding an ezproxy prefix to library search's PERMALINK will result in a security warning error.)
- Paste the URL generated by the ezproxy tool in your course site
- If you need help creating a URL or can't get a URL to work off campus, contact your librarian
Permalinks are often really long. Shorten your links through TinyURL or Bitly if you need to display a permalink in your syllabus or elsewhere.
To add a link to course materials to your D2L Brightspace course site:
- Select "Content" from the navbar within your course site
- In a module, select the "Upload/Create" button
- Select "Create a Link"
- In "Title", enter the item's title or your own description
- In "URL", paste the URL (found using the steps above or provided by the library)
- Check the "Open as External Resource" box
- Click "Create"
It's best to link directly to content rather than upload PDFs. Permalinks are often really long. Shorten your links through TinyURL or Bitly if you need to display a permalink in your syllabus or elsewhere.
An exception is with document delivery (digitized chapters and articles we email to you). The links we email you expire after 30 days, so it's best to upload the PDF to D2L Brightspace.
A "Library Tools" link appears in the top toolbar of D2L Brightspace course sites by default, unless a college or instructor has removed it.
It contains subject-specific library resources and ebook versions of required textbooks. Work with your librarian to customize the content (Library Tools in Law and Health Sciences course sites aren't fully customizable yet).

Copyright & fair use
- Copyright at a glance
- Copyright guidelines for instructors
- Copyright implications: Shifting your course online
- Tutorial: Fair use and copyright in instruction
For more information about copyright and fair use, contact copyright librarian Ellen Dubinsky.