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Support - EBSCO Help

Checking Out and Downloading EBSCO eBooks

If your administrator has enabled eBook downloads for your institution, you will see a Download icon (download icon) that allows you to check-out and download the eBook and read it on your computer when you are not connected to the Internet, or transfer it to your Adobe Digital Editions-compatible eBook Reader device.

Note: In order to download eBooks, you must have Adobe Digital Editions 1.7.1 or higher installed on your computer. This is a free download available at http://www.adobe.com/products/digital-editions/download.html.

To learn more about installing Adobe Digital Editions, please see: How do I install and authorize Adobe Digital Editions?

This page demonstrates how to download EBSCO eBooks as well as how to place a hold on an eBook that is in use by another user when using a desktop computer or the full EBSCO interface experience on a tablet. To learn about downloading eBooks to a mobile device, please see: How can I download and read eBooks on my mobile device?

Downloading an eBook

To download an eBook:

  1. Click the Download icon for the eBook you would like to download.

    downloading an ebook

    If you are not logged into your My EBSCOhost folder, you are prompted to do so.

  2. Select a Download duration from the drop-down menu and confirm that you have Adobe® Digital Editions or equivalent reader software installed. (If you are on a tablet device, you must confirm that you have Bluefire Reader or an equivalent app installed.)

    Note: For some titles, you may see the option to select either the PDF or ePub format for an eBook.

    select ebook format

  3. Click the Download button.

    The eBook is added to the Checkout area of the folder, accessible from the upper-right corner of the EBSCOhost interface.

  4. Select to Open or Save the file from the resulting dialog box.

    If you Open the file, your eBook is opened with Adobe® Digital Editions.

    If you Save the file, the eBook is saved to your computer and can be opened with Adobe® Digital Editions at a later time.

  5. When a downloaded eBook is opened, it is displayed in Adobe® Digital Editions.

Notes:

  • If when trying to download an eBook to Digital Editions you receive the following error message, E_AUTH_BAD_DEVICE_KEY_OR_PKCS12, you may need to completely remove any authorization using ctrl-shift-D to Adobe Digital Editions (cmd-shift-D if on Mac). Then restart Digital Editions, and reauthorize with your Adobe ID.

  • When downloading an eBook using the Chrome browser, the download will not automatically open but appears in the download bar at the bottom of the browser as URLLink.acsm. Click the download in the bar and select Open to open the eBook or select Always open files of this type to automatically open future EBSCO eBooks downloads in ADE.

Downloading a DRM-Free eBook

Some EBSCO eBooks that may be offered by your institution do not have DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions. These eBooks do not require you to sign into My EBSCOhost to download them. In addition, no Adobe® ID or special software such as Adobe Digital Editions or Bluefire reader is necessary to download and read them.

DRM-Free EBSCO eBooks can be opened with Adobe® Acrobat or any software that supports PDF or EPUB files and there are no restrictions on printing, saving, or copying.

 To download a DRM-Free eBook:

  1. Click the Download icon for the eBook you would like to download.

    click download icon

  2. Select a Download Format (if available) and click the Download button.

    click download button

  3. Select to Open or Save the file from the resulting dialog box.

    If you Open the file, PDF eBooks are opened with Adobe® Reader. EPUB eBooks will open with Adobe® Digital Editions (if installed).

    If you Save the file, the eBook is saved to your computer and can be opened with Adobe® Reader/Adobe® Digital Editions at a later time.

Placing a Hold on an eBook

If the eBook you have chosen to download is in use by another patron, and if your library offers Holds capabilities, you have the opportunity to place a hold on the eBook to download when it becomes available. Sign into your personal My EBSCOhost folder account (if not already signed in) and click Place Hold to be notified when that eBook is available for you to download.

placing a hold on an ebook

The eBook is placed in the Holds area of your My EBSCOhost Folder. When the eBook is available, you are notified via the e-mail address associated with your account and the eBook appears in the Checkouts area of your folder.

After you check-out and download your eBook:

  • You may choose to transfer your eBook to your Adobe Digital Editions-compatible eBook Reader device.

  • You can re-download the eBook from your My EBSCOhost folder at any time during your checkout period.

Note: Users may also checkout an eBook for download at a later time.

To Checkout an eBook with the option to download at a later time:

  1. Click the Download icon for the eBook you would like to download.

  2. Select a Download duration from the drop-down menu and click the Checkout & Download button.

    If you are not logged into your My EBSCOhost folder, you will be prompted to do so.

  3. Select Cancel from the resulting dialog box.

    The eBook has been added to the Checkouts area of the folder and can be downloaded at a later time.

See also:

Searching EBSCO eBooks

 
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