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eBooks and Digital Resources: FAQs & Assistance

A guide to deciphering access of digital resources at ECU

FAQs

Can more than one person read an ebook at the same time?

This varies according to the platform and the publisher. 

Can I download the ebook to my device?  How?

The Library has some platforms which allow downloading and reading offline of entire books. Look for the download chapter or download full text options when in an ebook database. See Reading and Downloading eBooks for more information.

Can I transfer a downloaded ebook to another computer or device?

Most ebooks are not transferable between devices, however some PDFs (usually book chapters or DRM-free books) are able to be saved and transferred. 

How long can I download it for?

This varies from book to book ranging from 1 day to forever. See our Full Book Download section to see how to tell how long a book can be on loan to you for. 

What happens if I go over time?  Do I get a fine?

No fines, but the book will no longer be able to be read on your device. To continue accessing the book past the expiry date, download the book again.

How much can I print?

Ebooks are subject to the normal copyright restrictions which allow printing of up to one chapter of a book, or 10% of the number of pages of a book (although a few publishers allow more, e.g. ProQuest Ebook Central allows up to 40% for some titles)

How do I reference an ebook?

See the Referencing Library Guide for details on how to reference ebooks and other materials.

What publication date do I use for referencing?

Always use the copyright/publishing date for that edition, which is usually on the back of the title page. Often an ebook version is published after the print version and is a copy rather than new edition. Unless the ebook is published at the same time as the print edition, the ebook publishing date is just the date the book was published online.

Contact the ECU Library

If you encounter an issue while using digital resources please contact the library so that we can help. 

If possible take a screenshot of the error and email it to us or you can call the ECU Library

Email: library@ecu.edu.au

Phone: (61) 8 6304 5525

Got a Question? Ask Us