Check Out Ebooks
Preus Library offers access to several thousand electronic books, all found in our online library catalog. These titles are provided by a variety of ebook providers, each of which have slightly different methods for checking out or accessing their content. The sections below describe the processes for accessing ebooks from each provider.
Luther students, faculty, and staff may login using their Norse Keys in order to save a given title to their bookshelf. The Norse Key login also provides off-campus access to Ebook Central titles, and allows downloading of titles.
For the vast majority of titles, Ebook Central allows multiple users to check out or view the same title at the same time. This means it would be possible for a class to use an Ebook Central title as a common reading. Titles with multi-user access will show the message “Your institution has unlimited access to this book.” under the Ebook Central Availability field.
Downloading Ebook Central titles
From a web browser
Users with a Norsekey account may download Ebook Central titles in one of two ways:
Chapter Download
This format allows you to generate a PDF file that can be read on any PDF-capable device, including Mac and PC, Kindle, Nook, and iPad. You may select to create a file by chapter, or by indicating a page range. Each title may have a different maximum allowable page range, which is set by the publisher.
Full Download
Titles are also available in Adobe Digital Editions format, which allows checkout for up to 14 days.
Users must download the Adobe Digital Editions reader (for Mac or PC), and create an account. This account does not need to match Luther’s Norse Key.
See Installing Adobe Digital Editions, below.
It is also possible to download Ebook Central titles to a variety of Adobe Digital Editions-compatible ebook readers. Use of these readers requires creation of an Adobe Digital Editions account. See below for guidance on commonly-used devices.
Online access is available directly on-campus, or with Norse Key login via the proxy server from off-campus. All titles in the JSTOR ebook collection are available to multiple users to view at the same time, and so could be used as an assigned class reading.
Downloading JSTOR titles
JSTOR ebooks may be downloaded in PDF format on a chapter-by-chapter basis, and are compatible with any desktop or mobile PDF reader.
From the web-based interface, titles can be browsed without signing in. Downloaded content may be checked out for up to 7 days, and holds may be placed on materials already checked out. Most EBSCO titles are available to only 1-3 simultaneous users.
For some users, EBSCO ebooks only display the first page of a chapter/section. This is caused by PDF viewing settings on the host computer. To resolve this issue, follow the steps found here:Â http://support.ebsco.com/knowledge_base/detail.php?id=6682
Downloading EBSCO eBooks
In order to download titles, users must create a “My EBSCOhost” account, from the Luther campus network. This account works across all EBSCO databases. Users must also download and install Adobe Digital Editions software to their computer and/or compatible reader software to their mobile devices.
To create an EBSCO account:
- From an on-campus computer, visit any EBSCO database and click the “Sign in” link on the upper right.
- In the middle-right of the login page, click the “Create a new Account” link.
- Fill in the information requested. NOTE: You are not required to use the same login information as your Norse Key, and ITS recommends at least choosing a different password for this account.
Users must also download the Adobe Digital Editions reader, and create an account. Again, this account does not need to match Luther’s Norse Key.
See Installing Adobe Digital Editions, below.
It is also possible to download EBSCO titles to a variety of Adobe Digital Editions-compatible ebook readers. Use of these readers requires creation of an Adobe Digital Editions account. See below for guidance on commonly-used devices.
Follow the instructions on the Adobe Digital Editions website.
Mobile Device Apps
iPad & Android
There are a handful of iPad & Android applications compatible with Abobe Digital Editions. One app popular in the library community is Bluefire Reader. This apps allows you to download a title directly from the mobile browser.
Dedicated ereaders (Nook, Kobo)
Visit Adobe support for more information.
NOTE: At this time, Adobe Digital Editions titles are not compatible with the Kindle.