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E-book Guide: Using Ebooks

Ebooks

Graphic of books standing and lying with text e-books above

This page provides an overview of LSBU's main ebook platforms, EBSCO, Ebook Central (ProQuest) and VLeBooks (Askews and Holts). Each of these platforms provides access to ebooks from a wide variety of publishers, each of who have different standards for ebook access.

Ebooks can be accessed on and off campus at any time of the day or night. Ebooks are a useful alternative to print books if you're unable to get to the library, if a print copy of the book is unavailable or if print is not your preferred reading format.  

The catalogue includes an ebook filter on the left-hand side if you only want results to show ebook availability.  

What platform will you find the ebook?

eBook in the library catalogue:

  1. There will be a link there that says “Access this ebook via …”  
  2. The name of the supplier will be indicated:
  • Access this ebook via EBC/Proquest.  [EBC/ProQuest is the supplier]
  • Access this ebook via Ebsco Academic Collection [Ebsco is the supplier]
  1. See above for tips on accessing ebooks from that platform.

eBook on Reading Lists Online:

  1. Hover you cursor over the link
  2. You should see the ebook’s web address appear somewhere on your screen (Its position may vary according to the browser. For Google Chrome, it may be at the far bottom of the page)
  3. The web address contains words that will give you a clue as to who is the supplier:
  • ebscohost – means Ebsco is the supplier
  • ebookcentral or proquest – mean EBC/ProQuest is the supplier
  • vlebooks – means Askews and Holts is the supplier
  1. See above for tips on accessing ebooks from that platform.

How to access our ebook platforms!

Homepage / FAQ

ProQuest Ebook Central Homepage and FAQ and Support.

Sign In

LSBU Username and password (see screenshot).

Coverage

11,300+ purchased titles and 470+ DDA 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 Ebook Central 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 / tablets.

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 detail page.

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

Downloading and printing limits reset daily.

FAQ about ProQuest Downloading.

Read online

Sessions will time out after 30 minutes of inactivity.  

FAQ about ProQuest Reading Online.

Annotation / note taking

Users can bookmark, annotate, highlight, make notes and export notes on Ebook Central.

Accessibility

ProQuest eBook Central Accessibility Guide. This guide explains how to adjust colours, fonts, magnification, enable text-to-speech and more.

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

Referencing options can be accessed by selecting Settings > Profile > Default Citation Style > Choose as appropriate > Agree privacy policy and Terms of Service > Save.

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

Example ProQuest Title

Homepage / FAQ EBSCO Homepage and FAQ and Support.
Sign In

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

Downloading

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

Downloading and printing limits reset daily.

EBSCO downloading an ebook support.

Read online

Sessions will time out after 30 minutes inactivity.

FAQ about reading EBSCO ebooks.

Annotation / note taking

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

Creating a note on ebooks guide.

Accessibility

EBSCO eBook Accessibility Guide. 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 (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 / FAQ VLeBooks Homepage and FAQ and Support.
Sign In 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. 
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. 

FAQ about downloading VLeBooks

Read online

Sessions will time out after 2 hours.

FAQ about reading VLebooks.

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 under the current page.  Notes can be made in this panel.  When saved the notes will appear in the left-hand side panel with page number.

Books can be saved to bookshelf.

Accessibility

VLeBooks Accessibility Guide. This guide covers Assistive Technology Recommendations, Keyboard Shortcuts for navigation, Downloading Adobe Digital Editions, Edit Accessibility Settings, Colours and Contrasts, Copying and Printing and Compatible Devices.

  • Accessibility options can be accessed on the left-hand size of a title > Edit Accessibility Settings > Change Font | Contrast | Link | Colour | Popups as necessary > Save Changes.

Example VLebook Title

Other Suppliers

For other suppliers (e.g. Emerald, Wiley, Ovid, IEEE, Law Trove, etc.) – go to our A-Z Databases list.

Software to read ebooks offline

Depending on licencing, entire ebooks or individual chapters can be downloaded (ProQuest and EBSCO), and read offline on multiple devices.

Adobe Digital Editions (Computer)

Reading ebooks offline on Windows and Mac device, will require Adobe Digital Editions, and can be downloaded for free.  


Bluefire Reader (Mobile Devices)

Reading ebooks offline on Android and iOS mobile device, will require Bluefire Reader, and can be downloaded for free


Amazon Kindle Reader

Due to DRM licencing, it is not possible to host our ebook platforms on an Amazon Kindle device. Certain titles/chapters can be downloaded and sent to your kindle - see Amazons guide on sending to Kindle by e-mail

Requesting ebooks

Demand Driven Acquisitions (ProQuest)

When accessing a limited number of ProQuest LibCentral ebook, you may receive the message;

You may read this book for 5 minutes, and request this book from your library.

This ebook is not currently available through LSBU Library. Please click the request button to notify the librarians that you’re interested in this title. Where possible, we will respond to your request within 2 business days.

In these instances, the ebook is purchased only when a user chooses to read it for more than 5minutes. In most instances, you will gain full access after 5minutes, however some titles will be reviewed by the librarians before full access is provided (up to 2 business days). Where a request is rejected, the Academic Liaison Librarian will suggest an alternative source, where appropriate.

If your request is approved, you will receive an email from ProQuest informing you that 'Your ebook request has been approved', and a link directly to the title.


Unable to get into an ebook.

When an ebook has limited access (e.g. does not have unlimited user access), you may get turned away from accessing an ebook as it is currently in use by another student(s);

  • On EBSCO ebooks, the message "Sorry, this eBook is in use" will appear.

In these instances, we recommend exiting the ebook and returning later. It can also be good to check if you can access the ebook through an alternative supplier, or read an older edition of the title.

You will not be kicked out of an ebook if another user attempts to view it (they may receive the above message). However, online sessions will time out after 30minutes.

Whenever a user is unable to access an ebook due to licencing limitations, the librarians are alerted and purchase additional licences, where possible, to prevent this happening in the future.


Issues accessing ebooks

If you have an issue accessing an ebook, please use MyAccount or the Live Chat (chat widget in the bottom right hand corner). Please include the following details, to enable staff to help you efficiently;

  • Title details | ISBN of eBook
  • The link you are using, and where you got it from (e.g. reading list or library catalogue)
  • Your details, so we can inform you when fixed