The LMU Library holds a large number of ebooks that can be checked out or viewed. Many people have questions about how to access ebooks, checkout policies, and how to view them on their tablets. This guide will attempt to give an introduction to ebooks in a concise way.
First, you can access any library e-book in your browser unless it is checked out. You can always read the book online without checking it out. This is the simplest method of accessing an ebook, but reading an entire book on your desktop or laptop doesn't appeal to many people.
Second, accessing ebooks from the library is not like purchasing ebooks for your Kindle, iPad, or Nook device. You are borrowing a book, meaning that additional rights restrictions are put on the book so that it will automatically delete from your device once the checkout period is over.
Third, when you have downloaded a book, you have "possession" of it, just like checking out a physical book from the library. The library only has one license for some ebooks, meaning if someone else has it checked out, then you will be unable to view it.
The library purchases ebooks from several different vendors. The two primary vendors, Ebrary and Ebsco, have different ways to access a book on a tablet. See below for instructions on accessing e-books from your device. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
***An EBSCO update for EPUB in May 2018 allows for increased compatibility with screen readers, EBSCO recommends reading online for the best user experience, but if you still want to use the Bluefire App...
1) Go to Adobe's website and register for a free account if you don't already have one. Click on sign-in on the top right hand corner and set up an account. You will need your Adobe username/password later.
2) In the App store, search for "Bluefire Reader" and install (free) on your device. This is a third party platform where you will be able to read the books. You will need to authorize Adobe's DRM right by using your Adobe username/password.
3) On your iOS device, go to the the E-book Library (Ebsco) link listed under Databases A-Z or click here. You will have to login via LMU's proxy.
4) Click "sign in" tab in the upper-right corner of the screen. Create an account with Ebsco and then login using your Ebsco username and password.
5) Search for the book you want. Open the book's record and click "download book." A box will pop up asking if you want to check the book out. The loan period should be one week. Click download and a screen will appear with the download information. You will likely have to click a "save to" link and select "Bluefire Reader" as the destination. The book should then download to the reader. You can then read the book for one week, after which it will be automatically removed from the reader.
See the video below for instructions on downloading an Ebsco ebook to an iPad.
***An EBSCO update for EPUB in May 2018 allows for increased compatibility with screen readers, EBSCO recommends reading online for the best user experience, but if you still want to use the Bluefire App...
1) Go to Adobe's website and register for a free Adobe account if you don't already have one. Click on sign-in on the top right hand corner and set up an account. You will need your Adobe username/password later.
2) In the Google Play store, search for "Bluefire Reader" and install (free) on your Android device. This is a third party platform where you will be able to read the books.
3) On your Android device, go to the the E-book Library (Ebsco) link listed under Databases A-Z or click here. You will have to login via LMU's proxy.
4) Click "sign in" tab in the upper-right corner of the screen. Create an account with Ebsco and then login using your Ebsco username and password.
5) Search for the book you want. Open the book's record and click "download book." A box will pop up asking if you want to check the book out. The loan period should be one week. Click download and a screen will appear with the download information. You will likely have to click a "save to" link and select "Bluefire Reader" as the destination. The book should then download to the reader. You can then read the book for one week, after which it will be automatically removed from the reader.
Once you click on the link to view an ebook and authenticate with the proxy, the book's information will open on a platform. If it says "Ebrary" on the page or in the url then proceed with the following directions.
1) On a laptop/desktop computer, create a free Adobe Digital Editions account; this is necessary to access any library ebook on mobile devices. Go to Adobe's website and click "sign in" to create an account. This enables you to access copyrighted materials from the library. The software is free.
2) On a desktop/laptop computer, create a free personal account with Ebrary--click the "sign in" link in the upper-right hand corner of the book's display to register; choose a username/password
3) Go to the App store on your iOS device and download the Ebrary app (free)
4) Sign in with your Ebrary username/password
5) You will need to authenticate your Adobe DRM rights by using your Adobe username/password.
6) Find the book and click download. You will then be able to read the book within the Ebrary app. Most books can be checked out for 1-2 weeks.
Once you click on the link to view an ebook and authenticate with the proxy, the book's information will open on a platform. If it says "Ebrary" on the page or in the url then proceed with the following directions.
1) On a laptop/desktop computer, create a free Adobe Digital Editions account; this is necessary to access any library ebook on mobile devices. Go to Adobe's website and click "sign in" to create an account. This enables you to access copyrighted materials from the library. The software is free.
2) On a desktop/laptop computer, create a free personal account with Ebrary--click the "sign in" link in the upper-right hand corner of the book's display to register; choose a username/password
3) Go to the Google Play store on your Android device and download the Ebrary app (free)
4) Sign in with your Ebrary username/password
5) You will need to authenticate Adobe's DRM rights with your Adobe username/password
6) Find the book and click download. You will then be able to read the book within the Ebrary app. Most books can be checked out for 1-2 weeks.