Ebooks

Edinburgh Napier University Library has a huge collection of ebooks which you can access online wherever you are.

The best place to search for ebooks is LibrarySearch. Enter your search terms (e.g. keywords or title) and then filter your results by choosing the ‘Available online’ and ‘Books’ filters from the right side of the page. This will narrow your results to include ebooks only. Once you have found an ebook you want to read, open the record and follow the link in the 'View Online' section to proceed to the ebook platform.

We have ebooks on a variety of different platforms, so you may be linked to various websites, including VLeBooks, O'Reilly, ProQuest Ebook Central, EBSCOhost, SpringerLink, Oxford Academic, and many others.

 
 

FAQs

Can I download ebooks?

Most of our ebooks are available for download, either in full or by chapter. Many providers allow the ebooks to be downloaded as a PDF - look for this option on the platform.

Some platforms (including VLeBooks, Proquest Ebook Central, and EBSCOhost) require you to use specific software such as Adobe Digital Editions. This software will allow you to download the ebook for limited number of days. It also restricts how much can be copied or printed. These limits can vary from book to book so the platform will inform you what you are able to do.

The O'Reilly platform only allows you to download books when using the mobile app. See our Guide to O'Reilly for more information.

Can I use my Kindle or another ebook reader?

Ebooks which can be downloaded as PDFs can usually be saved to a PC or laptop and then transferred to a Kindle via USB connection.

Can I read ebooks on my smartphone?

Many platforms will offer HTML or PDF formats which can be read using a smartphone. For platforms which require you to download using Adobe Digital Editions, an app version is available. O'Reilly also has an app where books can be read and downloaded.

Why do I see a message that says the ebook is not available?

Where possible we will always try to purchase ebooks with unlimited access. However due to cost or availability, we sometimes buy ebooks with licences which limit the number of simultaneous users. This is most likely to happen on the VLeBooks, ProQuest Ebook Central, and EBSCOhost platforms. If we only have 1 user licence for an ebook, this means that only one person can read online at once, and if someone has downloaded the book for a set number of days using Adobe Digital Editions, the book won’t be available to anyone else during that time.

If you see a message saying that all copies are in use, then please try again later. If you are repeatedly denied access, please contact the Library and we will investigate whether we can obtain additional user licences.

There is an error page or a broken link when I try to access an ebook. What should I do?

Please report this to the Library by sending details and screenshots to library@napier.ac.uk. Make sure you are following links from LibrarySearch or from reading lists, as these will authenticate you as an Edinburgh Napier user and give you access to our subscriptions. If you encounter an error page, try clearing your cache or using a different browser as this can often resolve the issue.

Can I get ebooks read aloud or change the font, text size, or colour?

For most of our ebooks and other eresources, you will have options to have the ebook read aloud, to adjust the text size and font, and to change the colours of the text and background. For more information, please see Eresource accessibility tools and Technology to help you study.

How do I cite an ebook?

Please refer to your School's referencing guidelines or the Library's guide to Referencing in APA 7th Style.

Can I export references to EndNote?

Many platforms offer the option to export to a citation manager. Look for 'Citation' or 'Export' options. Depending on the platform, you may have the option to download a RIS file or to directly export to web-based citation managers. You can also find options to download RIS files or export to EndNote Online or Mendeley on the LibrarySearch record for the resource you would like to cite.

How much can I print from an ebook?

The number of pages which can be printed varies according to the ebook supplier. The platform will inform you where there are specific limits.
 

Step-by-step guide to Digital Editions

Some ebook platforms - including VLeBooks and ProQuest Ebook Central - require you to use Adobe Digital Editions to download ebooks. This step-by-step guide will help you to install and use Digital Editions.
Instructions to download Adobe Digital Editions
Close up of students hands at the work at a laptop

Step-by-step guide to the O'Reilly platform

The O'Reilly ebook platform hosts thousands of ebooks, especially in the computing subject area. This step-by-step guide will help you to create an account and access O'Reilly ebooks, as well as download and use the O'Reilly app.
Guide to the O'Reilly platform and app
Student sitting in a bright room, looking at an orange computer screen
 

Guides to ebook suppliers

The Library currently has ebooks on many different platforms. For tips on navigating these, click on the video for each platform below.

Cambridge Core help video

EBSCOhost help video

IGI Global help video

Project Muse help video

ProQuest Ebook Central help video

ScienceDirect help video

SpringerLink help video

Taylor & Francis help video

VLeBooks help video