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E-Books at the University of Kentucky Libraries: eBook Collection (from EBSCOhost)

eBook Collection (from EBSCOhost)

About this Resource

Full-text electronic books (eBooks). Search over 45,000 eBooks, including publications from all of the major university presses. Many of the titles are reference books or computer books.

Subjects covered:

  • Agriculture
  • Arts
  • Biology & Life Sciences
  • Business
  • Economics & Management
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Earth Sciences
  • Education
  • General Works & Reference
  • History: United States
  • History: World & General
  • Home Economics
  • Language & Linguistics
  • Law
  • Library Science & Publishing
  • Literature
  • Mathematics & Statistics
  • Medicine
  • Networking & Telecommunications
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Religion
  • Science: General
  • Social Sciences: General, Sociology, & Anthropology
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Technology
  • Engineering & Manufacturing
  • Travel & Geography

 

Use & Download Info

Format

  • E-books are available in PDF and, in some cases, ePub format.

Adobe Digital Editions

You may need Adobe Digital Editions (free download) on your computer or mobile device to download and open an e-book. 

Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.10 Installers:

Download Digital Edition 4.5.10 Macintosh (22MB)

Download Digital Edition 4.5.10 Windows (8.24MB)

 

For Mobile Devices:

Apple Store

Google Play

Supported Browsers:

  • Internet Explorer 8 (and later)
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Google Chrome
  • Apple Safari

For Adobe Acrobat Reader Browser Requirements and settings for all supported browsers, click here.

 

For general browser requirements for the EBSCOhost interface, click here.

If each page of the e-book opens in a separate Adobe Reader window while browsing an e-book online, you can follow these steps to correct the appropriate setting in Adobe Reader:

  1. Click the Edit menu in the toolbar at the top of Adobe Reader.
  2. Select "Preferences" from the drop-down menu.
  3. Select "Internet" from the sub-menu on the left.
  4. Mark the check box next to "Display PDF in Browser."
  5. Click OK.

Special note: An issue exists where some Internet Explorer 9 users are given an "Open/Save/Save As..." prompt each time they turn the page of an e-book while browsing online. The problem is under investigation; in the meantime, we recommend using a different browser (such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome) to avoid the issue.

EPUB Format

  • EPUB has become the industry standard format for delivering eBooks, because it enables publishers to create books that behave more like web content.
  • EPUB titles are often embedded with links to help the user navigate between sections, from the index to the relevant pages, and out to the open web.
  • Internet Explorer versions 8.0 and older are not compatible with eBooks in EPUB format. To view an EPUB format eBook, EBSCOhost recommends these browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer 11 or later.
  • For general browser requirements for the EBSCOhost interface, click here.

Special note: An issue exists where some Internet Explorer 9 users are given an "Open/Save/Save As..." prompt each time they turn the page of an e-book while browsing online. The problem is under investigation; in the meantime, we recommend using a different browser (such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome) to avoid the issue.

If each page of the e-book opens in a separate Adobe Reader window while browsing an e-book online, you can follow these steps to correct the appropriate setting in Adobe Reader:

  1. Click the Edit menu in the toolbar at the top of Adobe Reader.
  2. Select "Preferences" from the drop-down menu.
  3. Select "Internet" from the sub-menu on the left.
  4. Mark the check box next to "Display PDF in Browser."
  5. Click OK.

EBSCO eBooks on Your Mobile Device

You can use the BlueFire App to search the EBSCO eBooks collection available through UK Libraries. The app also allows you to download and read books, place holds, sync bookmarks across mobile devices, customize font size, margins, and other preferences. 

EBSCO eBooks can be accessed on phones and other mobile devices by using the Bluefire Reader App.  This App is available for iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire devices. You can download the eBooks Mobile app here:

iOS App: iTunes

Android App: Google Play

In order to use the ebooks Mobile App you will need a My EBSCOhost account and an Adobe ID. 

Create a My EBSCOhost Account

In order to download EBSCO eBooks to your computer or your portable device to read with the BlueFire mobile app, you must create a personal My EBSCOhost folder.

To create a personal account:

  1. Log into EBSCOhost and click the “Sign In” link along the top of the page.
  2. Click “Create a new Account.”
  3. Enter the relevant information and remember your Username and Password.
  4. Use your new Username and Password to log in to My EBSCOhost.

A My EBSCOhost account will allow you to save search results to folders, share those folders, create email alerts when new search results are available and more.

 

Create an Adobe ID

If you have previously created an Adobe ID to download and read EBSCO eBooks with Adobe Digital Editions on your desktop computer, you already have an Adobe ID you can use to authorize the Bluefire app.

Note: You must authorize the Bluefire app with your Adobe ID.

 

Authorize Bluefire App with your Adobe ID

Before you download an eBook to Bluefire, you must authorize the app with your Adobe ID.

Please note: You will only need to authorize the BlueFire app with your Adobe ID once. After this has been done, you will only need to tap Download any time you wish to download and read an eBook on your device.

To Authorize the App:

  1. Open the Bluefire app from your device's applications menu.
    1. Enter your Adobe ID and password in the fields provided.
    2. Tap Authorize.

Your device is now authorized to read EBSCO eBooks.

EBSCO eBooks Mobile App Quick Start Guide

Click the above link to view the Quick Start Guide. This provides step by step instructions along with screenshots on how to authenticate the eBooks Mobile App, find your library, search and download eBooks. 

Downloading EBSCO eBooks to Your Mobile Device - Tutorial​

The tutorial video below was created by EBSCO Support. View the tutorial video to learn how to authenticate the eBooks Mobile App (using your Adobe ID) and how to select your library.

Visit EBSCO eBooks/Audiobooks and Flipster Tutorials to learn more.​

Visit the EBSCO ebooks Mobile App FAQ page, if you have any questions. 

You can also Ask Us at UK Libraries for help. 

Screenshot

Other Usage Info

Checkout and Download eBooks to Your Computer
  1. Search EBSCOhost for eBook titles of interest.
  2. Select the book that you would like to read by clicking on “Download This eBook (Offline)” in the result list
  3. Select a Checkout Period and click “Checkout & Download”
  4. When the File Download box opens, select “Open” and the eBook opens in Adobe® Digital Editions.

To learn more, see Checking out and Downloading EBSCO eBooks.

Create a My EBSCOhost Account

In order to download EBSCO eBooks to your computer or your portable device to read with the BlueFire mobile app, you must create a personal My EBSCOhost folder.

  1. Log into EBSCOhost and click the “Sign In” link along the top of the page.
  2. Click “Create a new Account.”
  3. Enter the relevant information and remember your Username and Password.
  4. Use your new Username and Password to log in to My EBSCOhost.
Checking Out EBSCO eBooks with your Google Account
  • Google Sign In allows you to log into your library's EBSCO resources and to create a personal My EBSCOhost account using your Google login credentials (i.e. Gmail account).
  • Once your personal My EBSCOhost account has been created with your Google credentials, you can use that account to check out and download EBSCO eBooks.

To learn more about Google Sign In, see:

Google Sign In FAQs

Hold

If someone else is using an e-book you want, you can place a hold to download it when it becomes available. Enter your e-mail address in the field provided and click "Place Hold."  

Renewal

You can re-download the e-book from your EBSCOhost folder at any time during your checkout period.

  • Default is one user at a time per title
  • For information on a specific title or if you are a professor wishing to assign an e-book for a class, please ask us.
  • If you are viewing an e-book online but do not wish to check it out, please close it when you are finished by clicking the Result List, New Search, Back, or Exit links in the eBook Viewer. This allows other users to access the item.

Depending on publisher-specified limits, up to 100 pages of an EBSCO eBook can be printed, saved or emailed as a PDF file (per user) from within the eBook viewer to be printed at a later time.

  • Some titles may not allow for printing due to individual publisher-specified limits.
  • The number of pages may vary depending on individual publisher-specified limits.
  • If you have reached your printing limit, the option to print or save eBook pages will be temporarily unavailable.

To learn how to save, print, or email eBook Chapters, see: