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Accessing Ebooks: How to Access Ebooks

This guide provides a brief overview of how to find ebooks in Encore (the main search engine of the library) and details other popular platforms for ebooks.

Accessing EBooks

Library-owned ebooks are found by searching in the library catalog.

Ebooks come from many different publishers, and different publishers have different restrictions and methods for reading and downloading their books. Below you will find general instructions for finding and viewing e-books through the library catalog.

Find more specific instructions for downloading and printing e-books via the tabs on the top of the page (these tabs are organized by e-book publisher).


1. On the library home page, search for a book in the main search box.

library home page with red circle around search box

 

2. You are able to limit the results to ebooks by clicking the Ebook selection under Format

library catalog search results for harry potter with format filter shown

 

3. After limiting the search, click the Available online, click to view link. The link title will vary depending on the host site as will the landing page for the ebook. In many cases, there are links to download as a pdf or read in html.

library catalog ebook search results list with red box around available online link

There is no option to “check out” e-books for a limited period. Instead, read online and/or download a PDF of a section of the book.

Exceptions:

  • any e-book or audiobook on the OverDrive platform
  • any e-books downloaded for use in Adobe Digital Editions (sometimes an option listed as “Full Download”).

Page will show how long the checkout period is. After the checkout expires, return will happen automatically.

Online Learning Librarian