What is an E-book?
An e-book is an electronic version of a traditional print book that can be read by using a personal computer or by using an e-book reader.
What are some of the benefits of e-books?
E-books offer many benefits over traditional printed materials. They usually cost less to purchase and maintain then print books, allowing libraries to provide more content to patrons within the same budget. E-books do not take up shelf space allowing libraries to offer far more content then would be possible with print books. In most cases e-books are searchable and printable allowing users to find and manipulate the data not possible with printed materials.
What does University Libraries offer in regards to e-books?
University Libraries has access to millions of online documents including thousands of books from vendors such as: Ebsco, ebrary, Springer e-books, NetLibrary and many more. The following pages will give you more information on how to find and access University Libraries' extensive collection of e-books.
Read online is best if:
You are working on your desktop computer. Look for the "Read Online" or "eBook Full Text" links. Also, most eBook providers allow you to take notes online, and will store your notes if you have an account with them.
Download is best if:
You want to read the eBook on your mobile device or tablet. Bluefire Reader, the recommended reading app for downloaded eBooks, allows you to take notes and export them* when you are done with the eBook. Make sure to export your annotations before the checkout period expires. While you can download an eBook to your desktop computer and read it within Adobe Digital Editions, it does not permanently store your notes. Once the checkout period for the eBook expires, any notes you took within Adobe Digital Editions will disappear.
Make sure you have personal accounts setup with our major e-book providers:
EBL: You are set! Your account is tied to your MSU network login – no need to create an account.
What device are you using?
Apple and Android
Get an Adobe ID
Download the Bluefire Reader app to your mobile device
Authorize the Bluefire Reading app with your Adobe ID
eReaders
Get an Adobe ID
Download Adobe Digital Editions to your computer
Authorize Adobe Digital Editions with your Adobe ID
Authorize eReader with Adobe ID
Connect eReader to computer
Launch Adobe Digital Editions on your computer
Adobe Digital Editions should prompt you to authorize your eReader with your Adobe ID
Kindle - Downloading is not an option
Can send PDF pages to your Kindle reader - see the Kindle tab
