University Library Services

More about ebooks

We purchase individual ebooks and subscribe to ebook collections. Our suppliers provide access via their platforms. The main platforms you will use are Ebook Central, VLEbooks, and EBSCO ebooks. Each platform looks a little different but they all offer similar features and functionality.

Availability

We strive to purchase digital copies of books and other resources wherever possible. However, publishers decide whether to provide their book titles in ebook format for library purchase. The models offered to academic libraries differ from those provided to individuals purchasing via Amazon and bookshops; unfortunately, it is sometimes impossible to source an electronic copy of a book.  If it doesn’t exist, we can’t buy it! 

Licenses

Ebook suppliers offer various license options. The license type controls how many people are legally allowed to access the book. We currently have ebooks available on single-user, 3-user, unlimited access, and non-linear licenses.  A single-user license means one person can view the book at any one time, 3-user means three people can view it at any one time, and unlimited means any number of people can view the book at any time. The non-linear license works on a credit system and allows multiple people to access the book until the credits run out. We receive notifications if credits run low, enabling us to top up when required. The type of license available for purchase is determined by the publisher. Wherever possible we will select the most suitable license available to meet the needs of our community at the time.

Read online or download

You will usually have the option to read an ebook online or download the ebook temporarily. We recommend using the read online option as this enables more features and platform functions as described below. To download ebooks to your PC or laptop you will need to install Adobe Digital Editions. This application enables you to read ebooks protected by Digital Rights Management.

Help with accessing and using ebooks

See our list of frequently asked questions to find the answer to common queries about ebooks.

Download our bespoke user guides for individual providers