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eBookEbooks

Watch the eBook Tutorial (YouTube)

Answers to some frequently asked questions about using the library's ebooks. FGCU ebooks come from a variety of providers but the largest providers you will find when searching for ebooks in the library catalog are EBSCO, MyiLibrary and eBrary.

General Questions

Troubleshooting

 

How can I use ebooks from FGCU?

All eBooks, regardless of provider, can be viewed on a computer with an internet browser and PDF viewer like Adobe Reader.

Are ebooks always available?

Some eBooks may only be viewed by one person at a time and will become available soon after the first user closes the book or becomes inactive while using the book. Some eBooks can be checked out like print books and will be unavailable while the book is checked out. When you go to view a book or check a book out, it will tell you if the book is unavailable at that time.

How can I make sure an ebook becomes available to someone else when I am finished viewing it online?

In EBSCO: when you are finished viewing the book, click the Result List, New Search, Back, or Exit links in the eBook Viewer.
In Ebrary: If the book you are viewing can only be used by one person at a time, there will be a button in the tan tool bar above the book that says “Release This Title.” Click this button to make the book available to other users.

Can I download an eBook from FGCU to my computer, e-reader, or mobile device?

Yes, many eBooks in the FGCU Library can be downloaded in part or in full to be viewed offline. To find out what you options for downloading are, you’ll need to know who the provider of that particular ebook is and on what device you want to put the book. Remember that you can simply view ebooks online without downloading, if you don’t want an offline option.

Device

Download Options

Computer (PC/MAC)

EBSCO
You can check out and download the entire book for a period of up to 4 hours at a time. To do so you’ll need to:

  1. Create an Adobe account (click here to create an account, click here for existing Adobe Members)
  2. Download Adobe Digital Editions (click here)
  3. Create a MyEBSCOhost Folder (login into EBSCOhost through your library and create in top right hand corner, MyEBSCOhost Folder)

 

You can also save up to 60 pages at a time as a PDF to your computer. The PDF will not expire. The PDF file can be transferred to other devices using whatever means you typically use for that device (SD card, USB cable, iTunes, etc).

Ebrary
You may download up to 10 entire documents at a time using Adobe Digital Editions, a free software program for Windows and Mac. Availability depends on publisher limitations.

To install and activate Adobe Digital Editions:

  1. Download Adobe Digital Editions.
  2. Follow the instructions for installation and activation.

To download an entire document to your computer:

  1. Click on the Download button in the search results or QuickView. You may be prompted to sign in.
  2. Select the option to Download the entire document.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Choose whether to Open with Adobe Digital Editions or Save file to open later.
  5. Click OK.

You may open the document with Adobe Digital Editions and utilize features including organizing the library, using bookshelves, transferring documents to supported devices, navigating documents, searching text, creating bookmarks, printing, returning the document early, and more.

MyiLibrary
You can download up to 10 pages at a time as a PDF.  The PDF file can be transferred to other devices using whatever means you typically use for that device (SD card, USB cable, iTunes, etc).

Other Providers
There are many other providers of ebooks that can be found in the FGCU Library catalog and databases. Many of these providers will allow you to save PDF images of portions of the books. Some may only provide HTML text of book chapters or entries. HMTL text can be copied and pasted into other documents for offline reading.

Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod

EBSCO
If your device has a wireless connection, you can download a book directly your device. Then you’ll also need to download the BlueFire app (free) from the Apple App Store. Complete instructions here: http://support.ebsco.com/knowledge_base/detail.php?id=5748

If your device does not have a wireless connection, follow the instructions here:
http://support.ebsco.com/knowledge_base/detail.php?id=5706

You can also save up to 60 pages at a time as a PDF to your device.

Ebrary
If your device is has a wireless connection, you can download a book directly from eBrary to your device. You will need to download the Bluefire Reader app from the App Store to open the book.

To transfer a document download to a computer  to an iOS device (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad):

  1. Download a compatible reading app (such as Bluefire Reader) from the App Store onto your iOS device.
  2. Connect your device to your computer, open iTunes, and sync your device.
  3. Click on the Apps tab and scroll down to File Sharing.
  4. Click on Add, navigate to your My Digital Editions folder, and select the PDF file(s) of the document(s) you'd like to transfer. Make sure you don't select the .acsm file(s).
  5. Re-sync your device.

You should now be able to read the document on your iOS device. You may need to authorize the device with your Adobe ID.

You may also create image PDFs of specific chapters and page ranges, up to the same limits as for printing (established by the book’s publisher).

Android phones, tablets

EBSCO
You can download a book to an Android device and read them using the Aldiko Book Reader app. You will have to download the book to a computer and then physically transfer the file to your device via cable or SD card. Detailed instructions are here:
http://support.epnet.com/knowledge_base/detail.php?id=5871

Ebrary
To transfer document(s) to an eReader:

  1. Connect your supported device to your computer and launch Adobe Digital Editions. You may be prompted to create or enter your Adobe ID.
  2. Adobe Digital Editions automatically detects your device and may offer to authorize the device with your Adobe ID.
  3. The device now appears as a new bookshelf in the library. Drag and drop the downloaded document(s) you wish to transfer.

 

You may also create image PDFs of specific chapters and page ranges, up to the same limits as for printing (established by the book’s publisher).

Amazon Kindle

EBSCO
You can save up to 60 pages at a time as a PDF and transfer to your Kindle. To print (or save) eBooks pages as a PDF:

  1. Open the eBook in the eBook Full Text viewer.
  2. Go to the first page of the section of pages you would like to print and click the Print icon in the right column.
  3. The Print PDF menu is displayed.
  4. Select to print:
  5. Current Page: Print only the page you are viewing.
  6. Current Page and the next XX pages: Enter the number of pages (up to 60) in the field provided.
  7. This Section: Select to print the entire section of the eBook. (If available to select)
  8. Select:
  9. Print PDF: To send the selected pages to your printer.
  10. Send as an E-mail: To e-mail the selected pages as a PDF file to yourself.

 

eBook pages saved as a PDF can be transferred to, and read on eReader devices such as the Nook or Kindle. Consult your device's user manual for instructions on how to manually transfer files to the device.

Ebrary
You may create image PDFs of specific chapters and page ranges, up to the same limits as for printing (established by the book’s publisher).

To create an image PDF of a chapter:

  1. Click on the Download button in the search results or QuickView. You may be prompted to sign in.
  2. Select the option to Create an image PDF of the chapter, then choose the name of the chapter from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click OK.

To create an image PDF of a page range:

  1. Click on the Download button in the search results or QuickView. You may be prompted to sign in.
  2. Select the option to Create an image PDF of page, then enter the starting and ending page numbers in the boxes.
  3. Click OK.

You may open, read, and print the chapter or page range in any PDF viewer, such as Adobe Reader. You may also transfer the file to other devices including Amazon Kindle. Image PDF files don't expire.

Barnes and Noble Nook

EBSCO
See the instructions above (under Amazon Kindle) on how to save up to 60 pages as a PDF and transfer to your Nook

Ebrary
You may create image PDFs of specific chapters and page ranges, up to the same limits as for printing (established by the book’s publisher). See the instructions above for the Amazon Kindle.

 

I can only see the first page of an ebook OR  a new PDF opens every time I turn a page.

This is probably due to a setting in Adobe Reader (or your PDF reader). To get the right viewing experience you will want to set PDFs to open within the browser window.  To ensure ebooks are displayed in the ebook viewer in the browser window:

  1. Launch Adobe Reader.
  2. Click the Edit menu in the toolbar at the top of Adobe Reader.
  3. Select Preferences from the drop-down list of options.
  4. Select Internet in the left-column of the resulting menu.
  5. Mark the check box Display PDF in browser.
  6. Click OK.

eBooks now display in the eBook viewer without displaying individual PDFs for each page.

I downloaded a book into Adobe Digital Editions (or other reader app on my mobile device) and now it says it is expired. How do I access the book again?

You will need to go back to the place where you originally downloaded the book and check it out and download it again. Try searching the FGCU Library catalog for the title of the book to get back to the eBook.

 

Need Help?

Reference Desk: 239-590-7630

Email: libref@fgcu.edu

SMS: 239-676-0840

Watch the eBook Tutorial (YouTube)

 

 
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