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eBooks at UTAS Library: Downloading eBooks

Reading Books Offline

In this context, 'Downloading' means to read an eBook offline.

  • ProQuest Central, EBSCO eBooks, and ebrary are core eBook platforms used by the UTAS Library. The majority of eBooks available for download from UTAS Library can be found using ProQuest Central or EBSCO (Most other platforms will present documents as full text articles, similar to journal articles, rather than providing for downloads in an eBook format).
  • ProQuest Central and EBSCO eBooks allow for eBooks to be downloaded to personal computers for loan periods of 1-3 days at a time.
  • ebrary allows for eBooks to be downloaded to personal computers for loan periods of up to 14 days. 
  • When this loan period expires, if you still have need of the item you will need to revisit the Library's website and open another loan. 

 

Digital Rights Management

Important !

Some of the UTAS library's eBooks are protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management) systems.      

 

What is Digital Rights Management?  

DRM systems control the use of digital content, such as downloadable songs, DVDs and CDs, games, and of course, e-books.

It is how content creators-and libraries- keep track of how long an item has been checked out for electronically. 

 

Which eBooks are protected by DRM systems?

Databases containing DRM-protected eBooks are ProQuest Central and EBSCO E-books.

 

How can I download DRM-protected Library eBooks?


To download these eBooks, you need Adobe® Digital Editions (ADE) software.  

  • ADE allows you to download and read material protected by DRM, as well as to purchase digital content which can be read online and offline

To download a DRM-protected book to your e-device, follow these steps in this order:

  1. Download ADE software [free] onto your personal computer 
  2. Download the e-book to your personal computer
  3. During install, *do* choose to "authorize" your computer with a free Adobe ID - this lets you download DRM-protected books to your e-device
  4. Sync the computer with your e-device
  5. Transfer the e-book from your computer to your e-device

 

Downloading eBooks to a portable device

iPad, iPhone, Android and Kindle Fire

iphone page

The free Bluefire Reader app for iPad and iPhone allows you to save and read books from ProQuest Central and EBSCO on these devices.

To install the app, just go to the app store and search for "bluefire reader".

More information is available from the BlueFire Reader website.

Downloading from ProQuest Central

To download from ProQuest Central:

  1. First ensure that Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) has been installed on your computer (See 'Digital Rights Management box for more information). ProQuest Central books cannot be downloaded without the support of ADE. 
  2. Select an eBook from our Catalogue and follow the link through to the ProQuest Central record. Click the download button. 
  3. Choose the loan length for the eBook (between 1-3 days) and the preferred format for downloading.
  4. Click the 'Download' button to finish.

ebl downloading

Downloading from EBSCO eBooks

To download from EBSCO:

  1. Select an eBook from our Catalogue and follow the link through to the EBSCO record OR Select EBSCO from the UTAS Library database list here to access search options. Enter your search and select an eBook from the resources available. 
  2. Once in the EBSCO record, click the 'Download This eBook (Offline)' button from the left of the screen.
  3. You will be prompted to sign into your My EBSCOhost account for downloading. If this is your first time accessing EBSCOhost, create a new account. Once this account has been set up, you can use the chosen account name and password whenever you access EBSCO eBooks
  4. Choose the loan period for the eBook (1-3 days at a time)
  5. Click the 'Checkout and Download' button to finish. 

       

ebsco checkout screen

Downloading from ebrary

To download from ebrary:

  1. First ensure that Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) has been installed on your computer (See 'Digital Rights Management box for more information). ebrary books cannot be downloaded without the support of ADE. 
  2. Select an eBook from our Catalogue and follow the link through to the ebrary record.
  3. Once in the ebrary record, click on the 'Download' button from the top of the screen.
  4. You will be prompted to sign into your personal ebrary account. If this is your first time using ebrary, create an account here. After creating the account, you may need to click back into the record and choose 'Download' again. 
  5. You will be given the option of creating a PDF of part of the document or downloading the entire document for 14 days.

ebrary download options

         5.  Click 'OK' to complete the download. 

Downloading Limitations

USING LIBRARY COMPUTERS:

  • Adobe Digital Editions is not available from Library computers.
  • Library computers do not enable the downloading and installing of any external programs.
  • Therefore you will be unable to save any eBooks to a Library computer. On a Library computer, you can read eBooks online only.

 

KINDLE USERS:

  • Adobe Digital Editions does not support Amazon Kindle eReaders.
  • This means that you cannot download any DRM-protected book onto a kindle UNLESS you are able to use a non-ADE DRM intermediary.

For example: ProQuest Central eBooks may be read on a Kindle Fire using the Bluefire App.