An ebook is a text presented in a format which allows it to be read on a computer or handheld device. Many, but not all print books are available as ebooks. eBooks can just be the electronic text of the book or may also contain extra features, such as audio, video or links to other resources.
You can:
However, the Digital Rights Management (DRM) tools that publishers use prevents unlimited download, printing and copying. You will only be able to download a book for a limited amount of time before the ebook "expires" and you will probably only be able to print or copy 5-20% of an ebook. Some books though do not contain DRM, so there's no limit on downloading, printing or copying. You can search for non-DRM books on ProQuest, but not on EBSCO.
The Library currently has access to two eBook platforms
Neither EBSCO nor ProQuest are publishers themselves. They are what is known as aggregators, they aggregate (licence) content from commercial academic publishers. Each publisher has different rules about how eBooks can be used. Publishers use Digital Rights Management (DRM) tools to enforce those rules. Four licences are available:
All ebooks on EBSCO eBooks for FE Subscription Collection are unlimited, while those on ProQuest eBook Central can be any of the four licences listed above.
This is a collection of eBooks intended to be used in further education institutions in the UK. It currently contains 7,100 titles and is updated on a quarterly basis. All ebooks on this platform have an unlimited licence, which means there is no limit on how many people can access an ebook at the same time. Downloading, printing and copying are however, subject to limits.
Content covers many subjects, including, but not limited to:
Access is through an authentication method called referring URL which requires a password-protected page on the Library website. The Library provides a comprehensive user guide to the FE Book Collection which includes a link to the FE Collection, or you can access the FE collection password-protected page directly. To get the password, contact the library using an institutional (college/training centre/ETB) email. We cannot supply passwords requested from webmail (Gmail, Yahoo etc) accounts
EBSCO eBooks for FE Subscription Collection (UK) Guide
EBSCO eBooks for FE Subscription Collection (UK) Access Page (password required)
The Digital Library has access to the ProQuest eBook Central Platform. This hosts ebooks from many different publishers and at the time of writing, there are over 1.8 million titles available for purchase.
The Library owns over 200 ProQuest ebooks covering a variety of subject areas including:
Access to ProQuest eBook Central requires both a username and a password.
The Digital Library can provide logins for staff to access books acquired by the digital library and also browse the entire catalogue. For most titles, a five-minute preview is offered for you to have a quick look through the book. To request an account, contact the library using an institutional (college/training centre/ETB) email. We cannot create accounts based on requests received from webmail (Gmail, Yahoo etc) accounts
Learners can also request accounts, but again an institutional (college) email is required. We cannot create accounts based on requests received from webmail (Gmail, Yahoo etc) accounts
eBook Central login page (username and password required)
The Digital Library is happy to entertain purchase recommendations made by staff members. These books can either be for:
EBSCO eBooks for FE Subscription Collection (UK) - this is a large Excel Spreadsheet that lists the 7,000+ titles available
ProQuest eBook Central: This is a full list of titles owned by the library.
Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB)
Image: Maximilian Schönherr, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
