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eBooks: Ebook Central - Adobe Digital Editions

Information about eBooks at University of Stirling.

Ebook Central

Many of the library’s eBooks are provided via ProQuest Ebook Central. 

You can access these through LibrarySearch or via the ProQuest Ebook Central website  The eBooks are available to read online and you can usually download individual chapters as PDF files. Sometimes the whole ebook can be downloaded. If the whole ebook is available for download, you will see a “Download Book” button in the “Book Details” panel:

To download the full copy of an ebook for offline reading on a laptop or desktop computer you will need to install a free program called Adobe Digital Editions on your computer.

It is recommended that you download the book to your own computer. This is because if you use a university owned computer on campus then when you open the book in Adobe Digital Editions, you may not retain access to the book for the entire loan period or be able to transfer the file to your own device, since downloaded files are associated with the user authorised on that particular instance of Adobe Digital Editions. If you'd like to proceed anyway, see the section further below: ‘Alternative option: Download a whole book to a university computer on campus’

Preferred option: Download a whole book for offline reading on your own PC/laptop

Downloading Ebook Central eBooks on a PC or MAC

1. Before downloading an ebook you will need to install a free program called Adobe Digital Editions on your computer. Adobe Digital Editions can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html

Please note: When using a laptop or desktop PC or Mac you will not be able to download Adobe Digital Editions from Google Play or the App Store.

2. Once you have installed Adobe Digital Editions you can click on the “Download Book” option. A pop-up screen will appear asking what type of device you are using. Choose the correct option and click continue.

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3. On the next screen you may be prompted to download Adobe Digital Editions. If you have already done this click on ‘Done with this step’.

 

4. The next screen will display the loan length and format options. Choose EPUB or PDF format and click download. The downloaded eBook should automatically open in Adobe Digital Editions. If the book doesn't open automatically, see the section below on 'Opening the downloaded book file with Adobe Digital Editions'.

Please note: It is not possible to print or copy from the downloaded version of a ProQuest Ebook Central eBook

Alternative option: Download a whole book to a university computer on campus

It is recommended that you download the book to your own computer. This is because if you use a university owned computer on campus then when you open the book in Adobe Digital Editions, you may not retain access to the book for the entire loan period or be able to transfer the file to your own device, since downloaded files are associated with the user authorised on that particular instance of Adobe Digital Editions. If you'd like to proceed anyway, follow the directions below:

1. Before downloading an ebook you will need to download a free program called Adobe Digital Editions from Apps Anywhere (info about Apps Anywhere is at: http://stir.ac.uk/412)

  • In Apps Anywhere search for: digital editions
  • Choose Launch next to the Digital Editions logo

 

2. Once you have installed Adobe Digital Editions you can click on the “Download Book” option in Ebook Central. A pop-up screen will appear, make sure you choose the option: 'I'm using a public computer'

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3. On the next screen you may be prompted to download Adobe Digital Editions, click on ‘Done with this step’:

4. The next screen will display the loan length and format options. Choose EPUB or PDF format and click download. The downloaded eBook should automatically open in Adobe Digital Editions. If the book doesn't open automatically, see the section below on 'Opening the downloaded book file with Adobe Digital Editions'.

Please note: It is not possible to print or copy from the downloaded version of a ProQuest Ebook Central eBook

Opening the downloaded book file with Adobe Digital Editions

If the book you’ve downloaded doesn’t automatically open in Adobe Digital Editions, then you will need to manually open the file from within Adobe Digital Editions:

  • Open Adobe Digital Editions
  • Select File > Add to Library to add it to your Adobe Digital Editions library.
  • Browse to find the acsm file your Downloads folder.  Make sure you select “Adobe Content Server Message” in the drop-down option next to File name:

  • Select the file, click Open
  • You will see a Computer Authorization window.  Tick the option “I want to authorize my computer without an ID”:

  • Then select Next.
  • Then choose Authorize.
  • You will see the “Your Computer Has Been Authorized” message. Select OK:

  • Then, double-click the book in the library to open it.
  • Wait a minute or so and you’ll see the book has been added to your Library in Adobe Digital Editions: