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Online Study Skills Hub: Using eBooks

Competencies essential for academic and professional success

Downloading eBooks

The Library holds eBooks from 2 platforms where you are able to download the book in Adobe Digital Editions. These platforms are eBook Central and VLeBooks.

Adobe Digital Editions is an ePub platform and will allow you to access many features unavailable to you in PDF format.

Before you try to download an eBook, you will want to download Adobe Digital Editions on your device. You can find links and instructions to do so on Adobe's website. Downloading Adobe Digital Editions is free.

Occasionally, you won't be able to download eBooks from the 3 platforms above. In these cases the 'download eBook' button will be greyed out and you won't be able to click it. You will still be able to click 'Read Online' and read these eBooks in your browser.

The library also subscribes to a variety of eBook platforms where you are able to download in PDF format. You won't need Adobe Digital Editions to read these books. When you're able to download an eBook in PDF format you should see the PDF symbol. Simply click and the eBook should download.

Tutorials are available for some platforms below. These videos do not include any audio, and a text description of instructions has been included after each video.

 

 

Downloading eBooks: eBook Central - text description

  • Click on the "Download Book" button on the left hand side of the page;
  • In the pop up window, click on the "Open book" button;
  • In the next screen, click on the "Download" icon (the first to the left at the top of the screen);
  • In the next screen, select "I'm using my own computer" and click "Continue";
  • In the next screen, click "Done with this step";
  • In the next screen, click "Download your book";
  • In the next screen, tick "I want to authorize my computer without an ID";
  • You have now downloaded your selected eBook.

Downloading eBooks: VLeBooks - text description

  • Click on the "Download" button;
  • In the pop up window, click on the "Download" button;
  • In the next screen, click on the "Click here to download" button;
  • In the next screen, tick "I want to authorize my computer without an ID";
  • You have now downloaded your selected eBook.

Printing eBooks

Most platforms only allow you to print part of an eBook.

Remember:

  • Always log into your Library account before accessing eBooks.
  • Unsure how to print on campus? See our printing guidance.
  • In many ways, printing an eBook is like copying a physical book, so your printing needs to be for personal use only and comply with copyright regulations.
  • Unable to read PDF files? Download Acrobat Reader. 

Ebook Central

On Ebook Central, you may print up to 40% of a book. Downloading as PDF ("Print to PDF") and "Chapter Download" deduct against the same total; you can check the number of allowed pages remaining in the "Availability" section of the page of the eBook. The limit resets after 24 hours. 
There are several ways to download and print: you may download a chapter as a PDF file by clicking on "Download PDF Chapter" in the overview page Download PDF Chapter or next to each chapter in the list of contentsDownload PDF, or by clicking on the "Chapter Download" iconChapter Download Iconat the top of the page while reading the book. You can print any range of pages (again, up to 40% of the book) by clicking on the "Print to PDF" iconPrint to PDF iconat the top of the page while reading the book.
If you are not being allowed to download/print 40% of an eBook, you may have accidentally signed in as a guest (that is, you selected 'continue as guest').
Additional information is available on the Ebook Central website.

VLeBooks 

VLeBooks allows you to print up to 10% of any eBook (but some specific publishers may impose different limits for their books). You can print a page range or a section of a page (which will prompt the platform to copy the text the for you). While reading an eBook, click on the "Print" button Print Button at the top of the page ​ to see your remaining allowance and print.
Additional information is available on the VLEbooks website.

JSTOR

JSTOR eBooks can be printed the same way as journal articles, that is by downloading them first (click on the "Download PDF" button Download PDF button above the text, on the right) and then printing them.
Additional information is available on the JSTOR website.

Bloomsbury

You can print chapters of Bloomsbury Collection eBooks by clicking on the Print icon at the top of the pagePrint icon.
Additional information is available on the Bloomsbury website.

Ovid

To print from the main Ovid eBook interface, click on "Print Preview" in the navigation bar above the text. To print from the Book Reader interface, click on the Tools icon Tools icon at the top right and then on the Print icon Print icon. Both options will ask you to specify the size in which you wish to print your graphics (such as illustrations) and then print the whole chapter you are currently viewing.
To print a smaller section of a chapter, use the main Ovid eBook interface and click on the Print icon next to the tile of the paragraph or section Print icon (the section will be highlighted with a yellow background).
Note that in Ovid, pagination does not match print.