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eBook Help

Find & use eBooks in our catalog & databases.

EBSCOhost eBooks

How to Check Out eBooks

Listed below are directions for downloading eBooks onto your personal computer, tablet, smartphone, or tethered reader.

Please note that as technology updates (as it frequently does), these directions become general guidelines. Each device is different and may require different methods.

If you are having any difficulty getting your eBook, please get in touch with the research librarian for assistance.

How to Download an eBook

Most of our eBooks are hosted by EBSCO.

The following instructions will guide you through the process of downloading eBooks from EBSCO.

Download to a laptop or desktop computer:

Get your Personal Account

You will need an EBSCO account to check out eBooks. Follow these steps:

  1. Open any EBSCO database.

  2. Select Sign In from the navigation bar at the top of the page.

    Screenshot of the EBSCO eBook database with the sign-in option highlighted.

  3. Log in using a Google account or an existing EBSCO account. Alternatively, create a new account.

    Screenshot of the EBSCO sign-in screen.

Download Your e-Reader

Reading eBooks from EBSCO requires Adobe Digital Editions, a free application. Follow these steps to get it:

  1. Go to the Adobe website and create an Adobe ID.

    Dobe Digital Editions login screen

  2. Download and install the free Adobe Digital Editions software; open the software once it is installed and configure it with your new Adobe account information.

  3. Search for an eBook in the online catalog or through the EBSCO eBook Collection.

  4. Sign into your personal EBSCO account.

  5. Click on Download.

  6. Select your preferred Download format (PDF is preferred for laptops and desktops).

  7. Click the box indicating “I have Adobe Digital Editions or equivalent installed.”

  8. Click the button labeled Download.

  9. Save the file as prompted by your web browser.

Download to a tablet or smartphone:

  1. Create a personal account in any one of the EBSCO Databases.

  2. Go to the Adobe website and create an Adobe ID.

  3. Download and install the free Bluefire Reader software; open the software once it is installed and configure it with your new Adobe account information.

  4. Search for an eBook in the online catalog or through the EBSCO eBook Collection.

  5. Sign into your personal EBSCO account.

  6. Click on Download; to find the button in the mobile version of the EBSCO site, you may need to open the collapsed menu on the left side of the eBook’s record.

  7. Select your preferred Download format (EPUB is preferred for mobile devices).

  8. Click the box indicating “I have Bluefiire Reader or equivalent installed.”

  9. Click the button labeled Download.

  10. Save the file as prompted by your web browser.

  11. When opening the file, select the Bluefire Reader as the preferred application.

Download Adobe Digital Editions

The eBooks from EBSCO are protected by DRM. That means you need the right kind of software to read them.

  1. Navigate to the Adobe website