Using Ebooks
Using Electronic Books
A brief tutorial
There are two ways of accessing electronic books (ebooks).
1. Visit an electronic books database
2. Find electronic books in the Piper catalog
Visit an electronic books database
There are many electronic book databases available at http://library.lmunet.edu including:
- Gale Virtual Reference Library
- ACLS Humanities E-Book Project
- NetLibrary
- OCLC Ebooks
Visit the library website, click on “Databases” and then click on “A-Z List.” Choose one of the above databases from the alphabetical listing.
A note about electronic book databases
Electronic book databases allow you to search for and view ebook content. However, often the way you find the information and then view the content differs depending upon the database.
Here are some items to look for in each database:
- A search box
- A link to go directly to the ebook
- A place where you can create your own account and bookmark your ebooks
Here are some items to look for when viewing an actual ebook:
- A table of contents
- A way to navigate between pages
- Page numbers
- References
Find electronic books in the Piper Catalog
Another way to find ebooks is to visit the Piper Catalog. Anytime you complete a search in Piper, relevant ebooks will appear in your results listing. Look for the statement, “Electronic Resource” in your list of results. This indicates that the item is an ebook.
Also, you can limit your search to electronic books by clicking on the limits button on the bottom right of the screen. On the “Search Limits” page under Location, highlight Electronic (online) resources and click on “set limits.” You are now ready to type in your search and find only ebooks in the catalog.
When you find an ebook you would like to view, click on the title of the ebook. A small window will pop up. Click on the link in the pop up window to go directly to the ebook.
Note: Most electronic databases will only allow you to print one page at a time due to copyright laws.