Ebooks: using our ebook collection

If you have found your title through the catalogue, select Available online or eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) link under the 'Access Online' section to view the ebook in the database. Alternatively, if you have found your title directly in the EBSCO database, select the title of the ebook. 

You will be directed to a summary page for the ebook, as seen below.

Options for reading EBSCO ebooks

• Read Online in a browser based ereader by selecting the Access now button. When there are multiple formats available, this button becomes a dropdown menu labelled 'Access options'. Click the Access options button and select PDF full text or EPUB full text to read the ebook in your preferred format. Alternatively, you can navigate directly to a section of the ebook by selecting the chapter title under Table of contents. 
• Read Offline (download) using a compatible device by selecting  Download or the download icon  next to a chapter to download only a part of the text. 

If you are unsure whether you wish to commit to "borrowing" the ebook, we suggest you start by reading it online before downloading it, where downloading is an option.

Usage limits

Some ebooks may have limits: these may relate to how many users can access it at a time, how many pages can be downloaded or whether it can be downloaded at all. This information can be found on the summary page under Permissions.

Please note that these limits are not managed by the Library.

Click Full Text to read the ebook in your browser. You may have a choice between Epub or PDF.

EBSCO's ebook reader is similar to ProQuest's. There are a few key differences:

• copy text directly from the page. Usually unlimited copy/paste.
• Add comments by clicking 'My Notes' (next to Contents menu). No highlighting.
• Dictionary feature - highlight a word and look up the definition

If you choose to read the book online you will see a box that indicates how many pages you can print or save.

These limits may vary from book to book, depending on publisher allowances and the size of the book.

You can save allowable portions as a pdf.

Requirements for reading offline

Before downloading an EBSCO ebook to read offline, you will need:

1. a compatible device
This includes desktop computers or laptops, iOS or Android mobile devices, and most ereaders except Kindle. Check your device's support page for details.

2. free, basic software
Ebook files are protected with Adobe DRM (Digital Rights Management). Use Adobe Digital Editions or your preferred compatible ebook reader app. Adobe Digital Editions can be used without an Adobe ID, though you will need to create a free Adobe ID account if you wish to read ebooks on multiple devices.

3. myEbsco or Google account
You will be prompted to sign in with either a MyEBSCO or Google account. You can create a MyEBSCO account for free. This is separate to your State Library Victoria account.

Instructions

Click on Full Download to "borrow" a copy of the complete book on your device. If there is no tab, then this title is not available for download due to publisher restrictions.

There will be a set of instructions on the screen to guide you through the download steps.

You can choose a download period of between 1 and 7 days. Once downloaded, the book will remain on your device until the download period expires or you return the ebook. If you need more time, you can download the ebook again if it is available.​

Please note that iOS 13+ devices using the Safari browser will need to access the downloaded eBook file from the Files app.

For step-by-step instructions see EBSCO FAQ page, How can I download and read eBooks on my mobile device?

The age of your device, operating system, browser or app version may contribute to issues. Follow the general troubleshooting steps below for common errors:

• Repeat the process to check it's not a temporary glitch.
• Turn your device off and on and clear your cache and cookies. 
• Try de-authorizing and re-authorizing Adobe Digital Editions. 
• Using a VPN may impact your ability to access ProQuest eBooks. Turn off VPN or change your IP address back to Australia to continue.

For continuing issues please Ask A Librarian. Please provide details of the problem and your device.

For more instructions, troubleshooting guides and videos, visit the EBSCO's own eBooks guide: