The following notes include recommended settings for reading EBSCO eBooks on your computer.
The browser and system requirements for reading EBSCO eBooks are as follows:
* Internet Explorer - 11.0 or later
* Safari - 11.0 or later
* Google Chrome - Latest version plus one previous version
* iOS - 11.0 or later
* Other - JavaScript, Cookies Enabled, DOM Storage
For general browser requirements for the EBSCOhost interface, click here.
Internet Explorer versions 8.0 and older are not compatible with eBooks in EPUB format. To view an EPUB format eBook, we recommended these browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer 11 or later.
See also:
The default search screen for EBSCO eBooks is basic search. The eBook Collection landing page displayed below is available by clicking the eBooks link in the top toolbar.
There are several ways to search for EBSCO eBooks:
Perform a keyword search of the eBooks database using the Find field.
Search eBooks by Lexile using the Lexile field code in the Find field. For example, search LX 410 to search for eBooks matching that Lexile. To learn more about Lexiles, see: Lexile Reading Levels.
Browse by Category by selecting a category from the column on the left.
View the Latest Added eBooks using the left and right arrows or click View All to view a result list of all latest added eBooks.
View Featured eBooks using the left and right arrows or click View All to view a result list of all Featured eBooks.
To search for eBooks:
Enter your search terms in the Find field and click the Search button
A Result List of eBooks related to your search terms is displayed.
Click an eBook Full Text (PDF or EPUB) link to read the book in the eBook Viewer tool.
Click the Full Download icon to check out the book and read it on your computer using Adobe Digital Editions. (See Downloading an eBook below)
Note: Libraries that have eBook download capabilities enabled, will see a Download icon.
Click the Table of Contents link to view the chapters of an eBook. You can go directly to a chapter in the eBook Viewer tool by clicking on a hyperlinked chapter.
Note: Sections in the Table of Contents with a plus sign ( +) can be expanded further by clicking the plus sign.
A Detailed Record can be viewed by clicking an eBook title in the Result list. From the Detailed Record, you can read or download the eBook using the links in the left column. From the right column, you can print, email, save, or export the record, as well as add the details about the eBook to your folder.
If available, the Detailed Record displays the number of copies available via Concurrent Access.
At the bottom of the Detailed Record, you can view Most Relevant Pages from this eBook and the Table of Contents. Both sections can be collapsed or expanded by clicking the plus (+) or minus (-) in the upper left corner of the section.
Most Relevant Pages from this eBook: Displays the most relevant sections of the eBook in which your search terms appear in the text.
Table of Contents: Displays the Table of Contents for the eBook you are viewing. Clicking on a hyperlinked chapter opens the chapter in the eBook Viewer tool.
eBooks can be read online in the eBook Viewer by clicking the eBook Full Text link on the Result List or Detailed Record.
In the top toolbar of the eBook Viewer, you can click the Back to Results, New Search, or Exit links to check in the eBook after you have finished viewing it.
Included in the column on the left, are tools that allow you to view the contents of an eBook, search within the text of the eBook and save a note on the eBook in your MyEBSCO folder.
Contents - Click to view the Table of Contents for the eBook title you are reading.
Publisher Permissions - The Publisher Permissions indicator displays the number of pages that can be printed or saved, whether copy/paste functionality is allowed, and whether the eBook can be downloaded to read offline. When printing/saving is allowed, the number of available pages is updated as you print or save eBook pages to your computer.
eBook Availability - The eBook Availability indicator displays the number of copies currently available from your institution.
Chapter Download - Click the Full Download icon [] to download a chapter of the eBook title you are viewing.
Search Within - Click to search for terms within the eBook. See: Searching within eBooks
My Notes - Click to view your notes or to create a new note about the eBook or a page of the eBook and save it to your personal folder. See: Creating a Note on eBooks.
Included in the row of tools across the top of the Viewer, are tools that allow you to look up words in a dictionary and share eBook information.
Add to Folder - Click to add the eBook to your MyEBSCO folder.
Save Pages - Click to save eBook pages. See Saving eBook Pages for Printing or Emailing.
E-mail Pages - Click to email eBook pages. See Saving eBook Pages for Printing or Emailing.
Cite - Click to copy citation information for the eBook.
Dictionary - Click to search for definitions of words in the eBook you are reading.
Export - Click to export citation information to a bibliographic manager.
Permalink - Click to copy a persistent link to the eBook.
Share - Click to share the eBook information on one of several social networks.
Full Download - Click to download the eBook to your computer for offline reading or transferring to a portable device. See Downloading an eBook.
When viewing eBooks in PDF format, the following options are available on the toolbar at the bottom of the viewer.
Page Navigation: Use the page navigation arrows to move up or down one page at a time or enter a page number in the field provided and click Go.
Zoom Out: Click the icon to zoom out on the page.
Zoom In: Click the icon to zoom in on the page.
Fit Page Width: Click the icon to fit the page by width in the viewing area.
Fit Page: Click the icon to view the entire page in the viewing area.
Fit Page to Viewport: Click the icon to fit the entire page into the viewport.
EPUB Format
EPUB is an open eBook standard and file format that allows you to increase the size of the font, enabling you to optimize the viewing experience on desktop computers, smart phones, and tablets.
EPUB format eBooks use vertical scrolling to display the text of each chapter. Use the navigation arrows to change the chapter you are reading.
In cases when you are viewing an eBook in ePub format, the toolbar appears as shown.
Chapter Navigation: Use the navigation arrows to change the chapter or section of an eBook title you are reading. Contents of the chapter or section can be read using vertical scrolling.
Zoom Out: Click the icon to display the text in a smaller font size.
Zoom In: Click the icon to display text in a larger font size.
Fit Page to Viewport: Click the icon to fit the entire page into the viewport.
Notes:
EPUB format is not compatible with Internet Explorer browsers 7 & 8. When trying to open an EPUB format eBook in IE 7 or 8, you are prompted to upgrade your browser to IE 9. For more info about EPUB, click here.
While the text-to-speech feature is not available in the eBook Viewer, you are able to save parts of an eBook in PDF format and use the Adobe Reader Read Aloud functionality to hear the eBook section read out loud.
If your administrator has enabled eBook downloads for your institution, you will see a Download icon (download icon) that allows you to check-out and download the eBook and read it on your computer when you are not connected to the Internet, or transfer it to your Adobe Digital Editions-compatible eBook Reader device.
Note: In order to download eBooks, you must have Adobe Digital Editions installed on your computer. We recommend ensuring you have the most recent version of Digital Editions installed. This is a free download available at http://www.adobe.com/products/digital-editions/download.html.
To download an eBook:
Click the Full Download icon for the eBook you would like to download.
If you are not logged into your MyEBSCO folder, you are prompted to do so.
Select a Download duration from the drop-down menu and confirm that you have Adobe® Digital Editions or equivalent reader software installed.
Note: For some titles, you may see the option to select either the PDF or ePub format for an eBook.
Click the Full Download button.
The eBook is added to the Checkout area of the folder, accessible from the upper-right corner of the EBSCOhost interface.
Select to Open or Save the file from the resulting dialog box.
If you Open the file, your eBook is opened with Adobe® Digital Editions.
If you Save the file, the eBook is saved to your computer and can be opened with Adobe® Digital Editions at a later time.
When a downloaded eBook is opened, it is displayed in Adobe® Digital Editions.
Notes:
If when trying to download an eBook to Digital Editions you receive the following error message: E_AUTH_BAD_DEVICE_KEY_OR_PKCS12
You may need to completely remove any authorization using ctrl-shift-D to Adobe Digital Editions (cmd- shift-D if on Mac). Then restart Digital Editions, and reauthorize with your Adobe ID.
When downloading an eBook using the Chrome browser, the download will not automatically open but appears in the download bar at the bottom of the browser as URLLink.acsm. Click the download in the bar and select Open to open the eBook or select Always open files of this type to automatically open future EBSCO eBooks downloads in ADE.
If the eBook you have chosen to download is in use by another patron, and if your library offers Holds capabilities, you have the opportunity to place a hold on the eBook to download when it becomes available.
Sign into your personal MyEBSCO folder account (if not already signed in) and click Place Hold to be notified when that eBook is available for you to download.
The eBook is placed in the Holds area of your MyEBSCO Folder. When the eBook is available, you are notified via the e-mail address associated with your account and the eBook appears in the Checkouts area of your folder.
Some EBSCO eBooks that may be offered by your institution do not have DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions. These eBooks do not require you to sign into MyEBSCO to download them. In addition, no Adobe® ID or special software such as the Adobe Digital Editions reader app is necessary to download and read them.
DRM-Free EBSCO eBooks can be opened with Adobe® Acrobat or any software that supports PDF or EPUB files and there are no restrictions on printing, saving, or copying.
To download a DRM-Free eBook:
Click the Download icon for the eBook you would like to download.
Select a Download Format (if available) and click the Full Download button.
Select to Open or Save the file from the resulting dialog box.
If you Open the file, PDF eBooks are opened with Adobe® Acrobat. EPUB eBooks will open with Adobe® Digital Editions (if installed).
If you Save the file, the eBook is saved to your computer and can be opened with Adobe® Acrobat/Adobe® Digital Editions at a later time.
The EBSCO Mobile app provides library users with an easy way to download and read titles from their library's EBSCO eBook collections. In addition, the app enables you to download eBooks and read them in the app without needing an Adobe ID or the Adobe Digital Editions app. This functionality is now supported in the app on iOS devices, available in Apple App Store, and on Android devices, available in Google Play Store.
See the EBSCO Mobile App Quick Start Guide on EBSCO Connect to learn about creating a Personal Account in the app.
To download eBooks on the EBSCO Mobile App:
Tap the magnifying glass in the menu at the bottom of the screen, enter your search terms in the search box and tap Search on your device's keyboard.
After receiving your results, tap the Source Type filter below the search box.
Tap the eBooks filter in the list and click Apply.
Tap an eBook result to see the details or download the title to the app.
Note: You can tap the Like button to add it to your Liked Items.
Tap the Access now button to view your reading options.
The details page tells you have many copies your institution has available for reading.
Note: If you are not signed into the app with a personal account, you are prompted to log in with your personal account or create one within the app when you tap the Access now button. Once signed in with your account, you are able to read the eBook.
Tap Download e-book to check out the eBook and download it to your device to read it offline. (Note: At this time, downloading is available on iOS devices only)
Tap Read online to read the eBook in the app while you are online without downloading it to your device.
Note: The ability to read eBooks online is now available for iOS and Android devices.
After choosing to download the eBook to your device, use the plus/minus buttons to select a checkout length and tap the Download e-book button.
The eBook is downloaded and opened in the app.
Notes:
If you have reached the simultaneous eBooks checkout limit set by your institution, you will be alerted by a message in the app instead of seeing the Download button.
If the title you have selected is not made available for download by your institution, you will be alerted by a message that recommends liking the title in the app and reading it while online in your device's browser.
Once the eBook is downloaded in the app, it can be read in the app using the viewer.
To read a downloaded eBook in the app:
Use the arrows or the slider to navigate the eBook pages.
Using the eBook reader menu options:
Tap the Book Info icon to view the eBook pages you’ve bookmarked, access the Table of Contents, search within the text of the eBook, or go to a specific page.
Tap the Table of Contents icon to go directly to a chapter or section of the eBook.
Tap the Display Options icon to adjust how the eBook is displayed in the viewer.
Tap the Search icon to search for all instances of a keyword in the text of an eBook. Ten tap a result to go directly to that part of the eBook.
Tap the Bookmark icon to save that page to your saved bookmarks for that eBook title.
While reading an eBook in the app, you can highlight passages and save them to your bookmarks.
To highlight a passage of text and add it to your bookmarks:
Begin by long-pressing the screen with your finger.
Select the text you would like to highlight and then tap Highlight.
The highlighted text is added to your bookmarks.
Tap the Book info icon and select Bookmarks to view bookmarks and highlighted text.
You can sort your bookmarks by Page or Date.
If you navigate away from an eBook and would like to resume reading it at a later time, you have two options from the Home screen.
You can tap the eBook in the Recently viewed area of the home screen.
-Or-
If you added the title to your Liked items, tap the Liked icon in the menu at the bottom of the screen to access it from there.
Tap the E-books tab to view your checked out eBooks and tap a title to resume reading.
Note: Checked out eBooks cannot be accessed from the E-books tab when your device is offline. In this case, you can access them from the Recently viewed area of the home screen or the Liked items tab.
The time remaining on your checkout is displayed on the eBook Detail page.
Tap Read now to resume reading the eBook.
Note: You are returned to the last page you viewed and your bookmarks and Display settings are retained.
Note: If the eBook you downloaded is DRM-free (free of any Digital Rights Management restrictions), the app lets you know that your checkout of the title never expires.
eBooks may appear in the folder in three areas.
eBooks: When a user adds an eBook to their folder, information about the eBook appears in the eBooks area of the folder, without the eBook being checked out. eBooks may be added to the folder by clicking on the folder icon in the Result List or Detailed Record.
Holds: When a hold is placed on an eBook that is in use by another patron, it is added to the Holds area. Holds must be enabled by your library to place a hold on an eBook.
Checkouts: When an eBook is checked out, it is added to the Checkouts area of the folder. If you have not yet downloaded the eBook, it can be accessed and downloaded from here.
The Notetaking feature assists with your research by allowing you to take notes on eBooks and save them to your MyEBSCO folder for later viewing.
The Notetaking feature is available on both PDF and EPUB format eBooks.
To use the Notetaking feature in EBSCOhost:
In the eBook Viewer, click My Notes at the top of the column on the left.
Click the + New Note button that appears in the Notes area. If there are existing notes, they appear in a list in the Notes area.
Note: Click the Sign In link in the top toolbar to save your note to your personal MyEBSCO folder account.
Enter your note text in the field provided and click the Save button. You can adjust how the text appears in your note using the Bold, Italics, and Underline buttons above the text field.
Your saved note appears in the Notes list.
You can sort your saved notes by Date or the Page number on which they appear.
Click a note in the list to reveal the available options for the note.
Click the Book icon to view the eBook page the note is saved on.
Click the Pencil icon to edit the note text.
Click the Printer icon to print the note.
Click the Trashcan icon to remove the note.
Click Contents at the top of the column to return to the Table of Contents.
Up to 100 pages of an eBook can be saved for printing or emailing per user as a PDF file from within the eBook Full Text viewer.
Note: The number of pages may vary depending on individual publisher-specified limits.
To save eBooks pages as a PDF:
Open the eBook in the eBook Full Text viewer.
Go to the first page of the section of pages you would like to print and click the Save Pages in the tools menu above.
The Save Pages to PDF menu is displayed.
Select to include in the PDF:
Select:
Open the saved PDF and use the Adobe Print function to print out your saved pages.
Note: eBook pages saved as a PDF can be transferred to, and read on eReader devices such as the Nook or Kindle. Consult your device's user manual for instructions on how to manually transfer files to the device.
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When viewing an eBook in the Viewer, you can copy passages of an eBook and paste them into a document with the citation automatically included.
To copy eBook passages with citations:
Highlight a portion of eBook text and use your browsers copy function (Ctrl + C) to copy the text.
Paste the text into a Microsoft Word document, Notepad, etc. using your browser's paste function (Ctrl + V). The default citations are automatically included with your text.
Notes:
The default citation formats pasted in your document are APA and MLA.
If you have selected a default citation format in your saved Preferences and you are logged into your personal account, only that format is included with your copied eBook text. See Setting Preferences to learn more about saving your default preferences.
Administrators can set a default citation format for their entire institution by changing the Include when Printing/E-mailing/Saving setting in EBCOadmin. See Viewing Results Settings to learn more.
eBook text is pasted as it is hosted in the eBook file. You may need to adjust the spacing in your document.