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E-book Guide 2023

Find tips for accessing LSBU's main ebook platforms

  • EBSCO 
  • Ebook Central/EBC (ProQuest)
  • VLeBooks

Each of these platforms provides access to ebooks from a wide variety of publishers, each of who have different standards for ebook access.

Homepage and FAQs

ProQuest Ebook Central Homepage

FAQs and support

Sign In

Via Shibboleth

LSBU username and password - see screenshot

Coverage

11,300+ purchased titles

Access

Ebooks are available in the following models: 

  • Single user – one user at a time can view an ebook 
  • 3 user – Three users can view an ebook at the same time. 
  • Non-linear – Usage of the ebook is limited by how many times the book is viewed. It can be viewed by multiple users at the same until the credits have been used up. 
  • Unlimited access an unlimited number of users can access the ebook for an unlimited time. 

You will be able to find out what model an ebook is by looking at 'Availability' details on the EBC platform.

Formats available

Read online desktops, tablets and laptops only.

Download PDF – chapter download.

EPUB – text reflows making it easier to read when using mobile devices e.g. phones and tablets.

Read online

Sessions will time out after 30 minutes of inactivity.  

FAQs about ProQuest Reading Online > select Read Online

Downloading

PDF – book chapters and sections can be downloaded as PDF within limits. The number of pages available to print is displayed under 'Availability' on the details page.

EPUB – gives greater reflow of text and therefore useful format for downloading material to mobile devices.

Downloading and printing limits reset daily.

FAQs about ProQuest Downloading > select Download

Annotation/note taking

Users can bookmark, annotate, highlight, make notes and export notes.

Accessibility

ProQuest Ebook Central Accessibility Statement 

This webpage explains how to adjust colours, fonts, magnification, enable text-to-speech and more.

Profile > Accessibility Settings > Enable Text Only Mode > Agree Privacy Policy and Terms of Service > Save Changes

Referencing/ Citations
  • APA 
  • Chicago/Turabian - Notes-Bibliography
  • Chicago/Turabian - Author-Date
  • Harvard
  • MLA
  • Vancouver

Referencing options can be accessed by selecting:

Profile > Default Citation Style > Choose as appropriate > Agree Privacy Policy and Terms of Service > Save Changes.

Choose 'Cite Book' on the title page of a book for a citation. These can then be exported to RefWorks or EndNote/Citavi. 

Example ProQuest Title

Homepage and FAQs

EBSCO Homepage

FAQs and support

Sign In

Via Shibboleth

LSBU username and password - see screenshot

Users will need to create their own username and password to access additional features e.g. folders.

Coverage 750+ purchased titles and 200,000+ subscribed titles.
Access

Ebooks are available in the following models: 

  • Single user – one user at a time can view an ebook 
  • 3 user – Three users can view an ebook at the same time. 
  • Non-linear – Usage of the ebook is limited by how many times the book is viewed. It can be viewed by multiple users at the same until the credits have been used up. 
  • Unlimited access  an unlimited number of users can access the ebook for an unlimited time.

You will be able to find out what model an ebook is by looking at 'Concurrent User Level' details on EBSCOhost.

Formats available

Available in PDF and EPUB 

EPUB format is not compatible with Internet Explorer browsers 7 & 8

Read online

Sessions will time out after 30 minutes of inactivity.

FAQ about reading EBSCO ebooks

Downloading

To download material a personal EBSCO account must be created (separate from LSBU account). Adobe Digital Editions is also required in order to view downloaded material.

Downloading and printing limits reset daily.

See EBSCO downloading an ebook support.

Annotation/note taking

Notes can be added using My Notes function and viewable in the side bar. No highlighter function.  

Creating a note on ebooks guide

Accessibility

EBSCO Accessibility User Guide and FAQs 

Information covers low vision, colour impairments, dyslexia, using keyboards for screen navigation and navigating e-books with screen readers.

Referencing/ Citations
  • ABNT
  • AMA
  • APA
  • Chicago/Turabian Author-Date
  • Chicago/Turabian : Notes-Bibliography
  • Harvard (inc. Australian)
  • MLA
  • Vancouver/ICMJE 

Choose 'Cite' on the title page of a book for a citation. These can then be exported to EndNote/ ProCite/Reference Manager/RefWorks/BibTeX etc.)

 

Example EBSCO Title

Homepage and FAQs

VLeBooks Homepage 

FAQs and support 

Sign In

Via Shibboleth

LSBU username and password - see screenshot

Coverage 280+ purchased titles 
Access

Ebooks are available in the following models: 

  • Single user – one user at a time can view an ebook 
  • 3 user – Three users can view an ebook at the same time. 
  • Non-linear – Usage of the ebook is limited by how many times the book is viewed. It can be viewed by multiple users at the same until the credits have been used up. 
  • Unlimited access  an unlimited number of users can access the ebook for an unlimited time. 
Read online

Sessions will time out after 2 hours.

FAQs about reading VLebooks

Reader guide

Downloading

Some books can be downloaded for 1 day.

Chapters can be printed or downloaded as PDF if it doesn't exceed the page limit.

To download as PDF: select print > print to PDF > save. 

FAQs about downloading VLeBooks - scroll down to 'Downloading for Offline Reading'

Annotation / note taking

The note taking function appears in a tab on the left side of the page. 

To take notes, select the notes tab and a panel will appear on the right hand side of the page.  Notes can be made in this panel or add a Bookmark.  When saved the notes will appear in the left-hand side panel with page number.

Books can be saved to 'Bookshelf'.

Accessibility

VLeBooks Accessibility Statement 

This covers assistive technology recommendations, keyboard shortcuts for navigation, downloading Adobe Digital Editions, edit accessibility settings, colours and contrasts, copying, printing and compatible devices.

  • Accessibility options can be accessed on the left-hand side of a title (before you select 'Read Online' to open the ebook) > Edit Accessibility Settings > Change Font | Contrast | Link | Colour | Popups as necessary > Save Changes 
  • Page Background Colour and ReadAloud can be accessed within the VLeReader (once you have opened an ebook) on the top panel

Example VLebook Title

Other Suppliers

For other suppliers (e.g. Emerald, Wiley, Ovid, IEEE, Law Trove, etc.) – refer to the guidance on our A-Z databases page.