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Ebooks: How to Download / "Check Out" Ebooks

List of new ebook purchases, along with ebook recommendations, and instructions on how to download/"check out" an ebook.

General Information

Download instructions differ depending on the vendor. Vanguard University Library currently has three ebook collections:

  • ProQuest Ebook Central
  • EBSCO Ebooks
  • JSTOR Ebooks

Not all ebooks can be downloaded. The download/check out period also depends on the ebook. Some ebooks can be checked out for up to 21 days while others can only be checked out for a few days. 

Downloading Instructions

Ebook Central ebooks can be downloaded for offline access. You first need to create an Ebook Central personal account and download Adobe Digital Editions to your device. Additional information can be found in the following guide created by the vendor, ProQuest:

https://proquest.libguides.com/ebookcentral/download

The ebook will "expire" from your device when the allotted check out period ends. 

Here are two examples of different download/check out periods:

 

 

You will first need to create a My EBSCOhost account to download an ebook. 

The following is from the vendor, EBSCO: 

Books may also be downloaded in PDF and EPUB format:

  • Most full book downloads require Adobe Digital Editions reader, which is available for desktop or mobile. These files have the .acsm extension.
  • DRM-free downloads can be read using any PDF or EPUB reader. DRM-free files have the extension .pdf or .epub
    • To read a DRM-free EPUB file on a desktop, you can use Adobe Digital Editions or the new Thorium Reader.
    • To read a DRM-free EPUB file on your mobile device, there are many compatible apps, including iBooks, Google Play Books, Bluefire Reader, Aldiko, etc.
  • Partial book downloads (pages, chapters) are DRM-free and may be read using any PDF reader tool

JSTOR ebooks can only be downloaded chapter by chapter - whole ebooks cannot be downloaded at once. The chapter will be downloaded as a PDF file which can be viewed in Adobe Acrobat Reader.