You can access the Library's eBook collection 24/7, from home, work or anywhere that you can access the Internet.
This guide is a starting point for becoming familiar with the eBook collections and platforms available through the University of Melbourne Library catalogue, Discovery and Databases, as well as free eBooks on the Web.
When you use the catalogue, eBooks will be included in the results of an ordinary search, but the method below limits your search to eBooks.
4. In your results, click on the "Connect to eBook" (University of Melbourne only) link to access the ebook online
Tip: Using the Library Catalogue to search for eBooks will ensure you have easy access to full-text through your University of Melbourne login. Alternatives such as visiting a publisher’s website or searching an eBook platform directly will not give you access to the full-text of a book.
You can also find eBooks by filtering your search results in Discovery by following the steps below.
To access the full-text of an e-book, click the link in each result, which may appear as a:
Another way of searching for eBook platforms is through the A-Z Databases list
1. Log into A-Z Databases from the Library website
2. Type 'ebooks' in the Database search box
3. Browse the list of results in the catalogue
The Library has well over half a million eBooks which you can access anywhere you have an internet connection. Use the lists below to jumpstart your search for eBook titles recommended for your subject area.
SpringerLink contains journals, books, series, protocols and reference works all aimed at supporting the research and academic community across all disciplines. The Palgrave Connect ebook collections were integrated into the Springer eBook collections during 2016.
Knovel offers an unmatched depth and breadth of validated engineering content, selected from the most trusted sources and delivered to engineers quickly and with extreme precision. Knovel's comprehensive content collection includes material properties, process and design information, best practices, equations and formulations for specific industries and engineering disciplines. Knovel’s content includes over 4,000 leading reference works and databases from more than 100 leading technical publishers and professional societies including AIAA, AIChE, ASHRAE, ASM, ASME, DIPPR and NACE.
CAB eBooks provides a unique opportunity to access CABI’s prestigious titles in an easy-to-use format. Books are indexed and retrievable as chapters, ensuring that a search of available titles will render the most relevant results. CABI publish ebooks in Agriculture, Animal and veterinary sciences, Environmental sciences, Human health food and nutrition, Leisure and tourism, and Plant sciences.
O'Reilly Safari Books Online features a curated library of over 30,000 technical books - including titles from Pearson, O’Reilly Media, and more - organized by the most popular subjects, from web development and mobile apps to entrepreneurship and UX/IA. The database also contains over 4,000 videos, as well as interactive tutorials, case studies, learning paths and audio books.
If you are looking for subject-specific recommendations for eBooks, see our Library Guides for more detailed guidance.
You can read all eBooks online via their link from the Library Catalogue, Discovery or databases, and you will usually have the option to download them as well.
The 'read online' and 'download' options may appear in different positions on the screen, depending on the provider/publisher of the eBook. E.g. EBL shows this option in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.
Most of our eBooks are downloaded as either standard PDF files or are controlled by a Digital Rights Management program.
Standard PDF files - there are a range of Programs and Apps that wil read PDF files, such as:
ADE locked files - These files have Digital Rights Management (DRM) and can only be opened with Programs or Apps that are compatible with ADE, such as:
You will need to set up an Adobe ID to use ADE files.
Please note, that as Adobe Digital Editions is designed for personal use, it is not available on Library student computers.
Can't remember your Adobe ID or password? Follow the instructions here for Forgotten ID or Password.
Some eBook platforms offer detailed user guides on how to find and use eBooks in their databases.A selection of them are included below:
Note: the buttons below with open resources in new windows
This is not an exhaustive list of free eBooks available online, but a selection of freely available, quality resources which may be useful to you.
Provides over million freely accessible books you can preview or read
Offers over 40,000 free eBooks: choose among free epub books, free kindle books
Contains 'public domain' eBooks in Australia, which have been prepared by volunteers
Contains a wide range of fiction, children's literature, historical & academic texts
Gives access to over 20 million records online and access to 1.7 million scanned books
Access public domain content through linked to Google, Internet Archive, and in-house initiatives
A website from the University of Pennsylvania Libraries that facilitates access to eBooks
Over 30, 000 books from the University of Michigan collection, scanned for preservation
An eBook (short for electronic book) is a book-length publication in digital format. Ebooks can be read on computers, dedicated ebook readers, tablets, mobile phones and other mobile devices.
Ebooks come in a number of formats and file types, which display slightly differently. Some ebooks are pdf files that have been scanned from a paper text. These offer limited search options and do not easily resize to adapt to different device screens.
Some eBook providers require you to check-out or borrow eBooks and use particular software, such as Adobe Digital Editions, to read their eBooks. However you will be prompted to do this when you try to access an eBook with special requirements and instructions will be provided.
Other ebooks are taking full advantage of the digital environment. They can resize, remember your place in a book, hold notes and bookmarks, allow searches and have in-text links to supporting material.
Most of the eBooks provided by the library can simply be read online using a web browser and/or downloaded, by section, chapter or whole book, in PDF format.
To access, download and read most eBooks from the library you simply need:
Some eBook providers require you to check-out or borrow eBooks and use particular software, such as Adobe Digital Editions, to read their eBooks. However you will be prompted to do this when you try to access an eBook with special requirements and instructions will be provided.
When viewing an eBook on any PC, laptop, or mobile device (e.g. eReader or smartphone) it is essential that the device can support both the software and format requirements of the eBook in question. For example, a Kindle cannot view PDF file eBooks because of the proprietary format under which it operates. By contrast, the Sony eReader can process PDF format eBooks.
It will depend on the device itself, as well as Digital Rights Management issues, which is a way for publishers to control who can read purchased eBooks, and to restrict what can be done with them. At the moment, downloaded EBL ebooks can be transferred to any portable device that supports Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). There's a list of these compatible devices on the ADE website. Portable devices with browser support (such as the iPhone/iPad) can also access EBL and Read Online via the web.
Most of the eBooks provided by the library can simply be read online using a web browser and/or downloaded, by section, chapter or whole book, in PDF format.
The same copyright rules apply to eBooks as their print versions, so the 10% rule is a rough guide. However, most eBook publishers provide guidance for the amount you can copy or print from an eBook (usually within the eBook you are reading). For example, clicking print in an EBL book will show you how many pages you have printed and display the total number of pages you are permitted to print.
Please note that Hawthorn students, general and alumni library members do not have access to eBooks, even from public access PCs.
To read eBooks from the University library catalogue or eBook databases, you do not need an eReader device. You simply require a PC or laptop that supports eBook software (e.g. Adobe Digital Editions), so it is possible to download eBooks. In most cases, when you choose to read an eBook online this is browser supported and does not require additional software.
Generally, eBooks from the library do not require any specific software other than Adobe Digital Editions, which is necessary for downloading EBL eBooks.
Refer to the Reading & Downloading eBooks page for a step-by-step guide to downloading Adobe Digital Editions.
Most eBooks provided by the library do not need to be 'borrowed', however some eBooks provided in databases such as 'EBL - Ebook Library' have fixed loan periods and after the loan period expires the eBook will automatically be deleted from your computer or device.
To access an eBook again, just return to the library catalogue record for the eBook, and repeat the download process.
There is no known limit to the number of eBooks that you can download or access from the library catalogue or eBook databases (at one time).
You can read an ebook while online (in your browser), print out part of the text (usually a chapter) and sometimes save a file to your computer of device. The publisher's page will tell you how you can access the files.
eBooks are provided to the University for use by staff and students. You should only ever access ebooks for your own personal study requirements, and not copy or share these files.
Most major eBook platforms comply with web accessibility guidelines. For more information about eBook accessible formats, please visit the relevant eBook provider below:
Digital rights management (DRM) is a term used to describe the technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers and copyright holders in order to limit the use of digital content.
When it comes to eBooks, DRM determines how many users can access content and what can be done with it. DRM sets the terms for how many users can access content, whether it can be downloaded and if downloading is possible any expiration period. Content that can be downloaded and has an expiration date will be automatically wiped from a device once the expiration date has been reached.
Can't remember your Adobe ID or password? Follow the instructions here for Forgotten ID or Forgotten Password.
The library does not have access to all titles on any given platform. Sometimes, a subscription to a title will lapse if it hasn't been accessed in some time (but the University Library catalogue record remains). Contact the library to arrange access.
Please report any access problems or error messages by going to the eJournals and Databases page and selecting the 'Report A Problem' button on the right.
Try accessing the eBook via the University Library Catalogue to avoid hitting sign-in restrictions.
Alternatively, you can save the Lean Library browser extension which will use your University credentials to access material you have found from Google searches or other sources.
Note: not all books on a publisher's platform are part of the University's subscription package. You can often restrict your search within the platform to only material that is available to you.
Check the system requirements for the type of file the publisher has supplied. Some eBooks have Digital Rights Management protections added and require special software to read the file.
Check the system requirements on the publisher's page, including any software that may be required to view their files.
Some eBooks are better suited to particular screen sizes, e.g. some will not resize appropriately for a phone screen. Check the publisher's page.
eBooks are subject to access period restrictions, just like a physical library book. Files are available to read for a set period and will then be erased. You can re-download the text if you still need it. Any notes or highlights you have made in your personal account should still be there.
First, try searching within the Library Catalogue. This should direct you straight to the correct title within the publisher's platform.
If searching within a platform:
Some publishers offer this service, check the help page on the eBook you’re interested in. You may require a Kindle account to do this with some publisher's books.