Ebooks

Ebooks are listed on LibrarySearch. Follow the steps below to search our collection through either of these routes, or alternatively, watch our video.

To find ebooks through the LibrarySearch:

• Go to the Library home page and choose the tab 'Books & ebooks'.
• Search for the book by author and/or keyword or a combination of both. At the search results screen, click the Library filter (on the left) to limit your search to Oxford Brookes University content if this limiter is required. Under the Format filter, click the check box marked eBooks to select only e-book content.
• Click on the book title to see the full details and click for the button marked 'View eBook'. Log in when prompted with your Brookes username and password.

Download our illustrated step-by-step guides:

Using LibrarySearch to find a book or e-book when you know the title and author (PDF)

Using LibrarySearch to find a book or e-book on a specific subject (PDF)

Our ebooks are on a variety of online platforms and each of these offers different options for viewing and downloading. Below you will find general information about reading and downloading. Below we have individual sections covering the main ebook platforms you're likely to see. The vast majority of ebook platforms will offer on-screen help guides.

Reading ebooks: which browser should I use?

Chrome and Firefox are the preferred browsers for viewing most of our ebooks

Downloading ebooks using Adobe Digital Editions

In order to download ebooks on the ProQuest Ebook Central, EBSCO eBooks and Askews & Holts VLeBook platforms you will need to have the Adobe Digital Editions programme on your laptop or computer. You can download Adobe Digital Editions here. IT Services have installed Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) as an App on Brookes networked computers. If you are using one of these PCs, you should launch Adobe Digital Editions first (from the "AppsAnywhere" page) and then go to the ebook. Brookes staff may need to request the programme from IT Services if they want it installed on their office PC.  An app version is available for iOS and Android devices.  The guide How to set ADE to open ebooks automatically has instructions for Windows and Mac users.

FAQs:

Q: I can see a file which is the ebook title, with a filename extension .acsm, but clicking on this doesn’t open the file.  Where is the ebook?

A: This file is not the actual ebook, it authorises ADE to download and import the full text of the ebook for the loan period.  You may need to manually import the ebook via ADE File menu, then Add to Library.  Then locate the .acsm file for the ebook in the downloads folder on your device.  ADE may warn you that the file wants to send some information (which is how the borrowed ebook starts its countdown to expire) - click OK.

Q: Adobe Digital Editions can’t find or open the .acsm file downloaded.

A: Go to the ADE File menu, then Add to Library and change the format of the files you’re searching for to Adobe Content Server Message.  Your .acsm files will become visible and you can import them into ADE.

Q: When I open an ebook on an iPad, or in Safari for Mac iOS, a blank page appears.

A: Tap on the blank page and options will appear top right.  Choose Open and then choose ADE.  Alternatively, press the control button and click on the downloaded .acsm file.  Select Open with and ADE.

Many of these books are available through a 'user license model' – this allows for only a limited number of people to access the book at one time. If an ebook is being used, you will get a message saying that it is not currently available and you will need to try again later.

Some of these books are available through a 'credit' model – this allows for a certain number of uses in a 12-month period, starting from the day the ebook is bought. This means there are no restrictions on the number of students using one ebook at the same time.

You can read ProQuest Ebook Central books online and may also be able to download the whole book (for a limited time) or sections of it, depending on what the publisher has allowed.

In order to read and download ProQuest Ebook Central ebooks you will need to have the Adobe Digital Editions programme on your laptop or computer - see the section on reading and downloading ebooks above.

On iOS and Android devices, you need Bluefire Reader, which is free from the App Store and Google Play, though you also need an Adobe ID to use Bluefire Reader. ProQuest have produced a very helpful guide ProQuest Ebook Central: Full Download explaining how their ebooks work on different devices.

FAQs:

Q: Why does the ebook look odd, with a message describing the current page?

A: Accessibility Mode may have been enabled (see the guide How to turn Ebook Central Accessibility Mode ON and OFF)

Many of these books are available through a 'user license model' – this allows for only a limited number of people to access the book at one time. If an e-book is being used, you will get a message saying that it is not currently available and you will need to try again later.

You can read EBSCO e-books online and may also be able to download the whole book (for a limited time) or sections of it, depending on what the publisher has allowed.

In order to read and download EBSCO e-books you will need to have the Adobe Digital Editions programme on your laptop or computer - see the section on reading and downloading ebooks above.

For full details of how to use EBSCO e-books, check this EBSCO eBooks User Guide.

FAQs:

Q: Where on screen do I click to view the ebook?

A: Look for a date on the right of the screen - users must click on that link to access the ebook.

This is a collection of ebooks on various aspects of Information Technology and Business.  Read this guide to Using O'Reilly for help with this collection.

FAQs:

Q: I can’t work out how to log in, it doesn’t look the same as for other resources

A: The O’Reilly platform requires extra steps to log in.  From the ‘Select your institution’ drop-down menu, choose the top option ‘Not Listed? Click here’.  Type your Brookes email address and click ‘Let’s Go’.  This will take you to the usual Brookes login dialogue box.

Many of these books are available through a 'user license model' – this allows for only a limited number of people to access the book at one time.

In order to read and download Askews & Holts VLeBooks you will need to have the Adobe Digital Editions programme on your laptop or computer - see the section on reading and downloading ebooks above.

More features are available is you use the Read Online facility, and bookmarks and annotations are saved to your Brookes account.

There is an FAQ guide which provides details about access and software requirements.

FAQs:

Q: Why is the ebook showing as not available?

A: If all licences are in use you will be presented with a message explaining the position and options available (such as placing a reservation).  You can also use LibrarySearch to check other ebook platforms for alternative copies.

Cambridge Core Collection ebooks are divided into chapters and each chapter can be downloaded in PDF format.  Where available, choosing the HTML option instead of PDF opens a new tab in the browser using Cambridge Core Reader, which offers extra functionality in reading and navigation of the entire book.  Setting up a user profile will allow you to create bookmarks and save searches.

Cambridge Core produce an Ebooks & Journals user guide.

• Internet Archive E-book and Text Archive: a range of ebooks including both popular and academic titles
• Directory of Open Access Books: open access books from academic publishers
• Project Gutenberg: a collection of 38,000 free ebooks, with a strong emphasis on older literary works
• Getty Virtual Library