eBooks

eBooks can be accessed via a FiNDit search, or searched for directly in an ebook platform. Some platforms will require you to enter your username (student number) and password before the ebook will open. Others may prompt you to create an account. 

Signing in or creating an account means you will be able to save and return to any personalisations you have made, such as notes or bookmarks. It will also allow you to see all ebooks you have accessed on that platform.

If you downloaded the ebook, or were prompted to loan it, your access will be limited to a set number of days. If the loan expires and you haven't finished with it, you can always get access again through FiNDit or the ebook platform where the book is hosted.

Not all ebooks allow for unlimited access. Digital Rights Management (DRM) controls the access parameters a user has with an ebook, for example:

• The number of users that can access an ebook at one time
• How much a user can download, e.g. entire ebook, a chapter, or nothing at all
• How long a user can download the ebook for, e.g. 1 day, 7 days, or longer

If your access to an ebook is denied, wait a short while and try again - another user might finish with the ebook in the meantime. 

ProQuest ebook etiquette 

Sometimes popular textbooks - like prescribed texts - only allow a few people to access them at the same time. 

When limited copies of a book are available, as indicated in the availability pane (see image below) it is recommended that you:

• Access the book online and Sign In to be authenticated as a ND user.
• Click Read Online and identify the portion(s) of the book you require and print/save to PDF a reasonable portion of the book. Print and download allowances reset every 24hrs in ProQuest.
• Promptly close the browsers to exit the ebook, ensuring that the book is now available for other ND students. 

Not all ebooks look the same or have the same features and functions, and this is because ebooks are hosted on several different platforms. Each platform has a variety of features and limitations. Some will only allow you to read the ebook as a PDF, others aim to create an experience that is more like reading a print book and allow you add notes and highlight text.  

Ebook Central and Ebsco eBook Collection are the Library's largest ebook platforms. Their easy to use features are highlighted below - start with the overview videos to help you get the most out of reading online.