Find and use ebooks
Find out how to access and use ebooks at Swinburne Library.
Most ebooks are available by searching our library. Type in keywords and refine your results to 'books'. At the paper clip icon, click ‘available’.
You can also search or browse an ebook collection or a journal database that includes ebooks. We’ve provided information and links to some of these further down this page.
Use these links to navigate to the ebook collection, journal database or resource you're looking for on this page:
What you need to know about ebooks
Digital Rights Management (DRM)
Digital rights management (DRM) is a system that controls the use of digital content and determines access restrictions and availability. Some ebooks are protected by DRM and some are not. Ebooks without DRM have fewer access restrictions.
Number of users
Some ebook providers place no restrictions on the number of concurrent users who can read an ebook at one time; others restrict the number of concurrent users from one to up to ten users.
PDF format
Many ebook chapters are in PDF format. To read these you need to:
install Adobe Reader
set your preferences to display PDF in browser.
Print and copy
You can print and copy from many ebooks. Often, the ebook provider sets a limit on the number of pages you can print or the percentage you can copy. Some ebook providers ask you to create a loan before you can print or copy, to the publisher to track how many pages you print and copy.
Note: An ebook loan does not appear as a loan in My Account.
Download
You can’t download most ebooks to a computer on campus, but you can still read them online. Some ebook providers recommend apps that allow you to read ebooks on a mobile device. One popular app is the bluefire reader.
Ebook Central (ProQuest) includes ebooks on most subjects, including science, education, health, business and management, politics, psychology, history, computing and engineering.
View and read
Read Ebook Central ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password and click 'read online'.
Number of users
Many Ebook Central ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users. Some Ebook Central ebooks are restricted to three concurrent users.
Print and copy
To print or copy, select the copy or print icon. At the print to pdf pop-up, select the required number of pages and click continue. If you are prompted to check out the ebook, do so before you print. Ebook Central loans do not appear in My Account. Your print allowance will appear after selecting the print icon. To view remaining copy/print allowances, return to the Detail page.
To print or copy you need to:
install Adobe Reader
set your preferences to display PDF in browser.
Chapter download
Download a chapter, page range, or single page as a PDF. PDFs are searchable and selectable, include a citation and do not expire. From the Detail page, select Download PDF.
For more information about chapter download, see ProQuest Ebook Central: chapter download.
Full download
Some Ebook Central titles are available for download for short periods. See: ProQuest Ebook Central, full download.
Note: Only titles with the Download tab activated in dark purple are available for full download.
Ebook Central ebooks and mobile devices
You can access Ebook Central books and read online on any mobile device with a web browser. To transfer downloaded Ebook Central books to your device, use the free bluefire reader app.
Ebook Collection (EBSCOhost) includes ebooks on most subjects, including science and social science, design, psychology, education, health, engineering and computer science.
View and read
Read EBSCOhost ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password. Browse the table of contents or click PDF full text.
Number of users
The information panel above the table of contents displays the concurrent user level. Many EBSCOhost ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users; some are restricted to one or three concurrent users.
Print and save
Print or save one page at a time up to a maximum of 60 pages. To print, you need to:
install Adobe Reader
set your preferences to display PDF in browser
open the PDF full text
go to the first page of the section you want to print and click the Print pages icon
the Print pages to PDF menu will display a range of printing options.
Download
Some EBSCOhost ebooks are available for download offline. To do this, create an account with EBSCOhost and follow the vendor’s instructions.
EBSCOhost ebooks and mobile devices
EBSCOhost ebooks work on most devices. For details, see: Which portable devices are compatible with EBSCO ebooks?
Sage Knowledge includes ebooks on all subjects published by Sage.
View and read
Read Sage Knowledge ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password. Click an ebook title to display the table of contents and select the chapter you want to read.
Number of users
All Sage ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Copy/paste text from the HTML display or PDF. Click Download on the top right navigation panel of an open chapter to download, save or print.
Sage Knowledge ebooks and mobile devices
Read Sage ebooks online on any mobile device with a web browser. You can transfer downloaded chapters to any ebook reader that supports Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). See the ADE website for a list of compatible devices.
SpringerLink includes scholarly ebooks on biomedical, life and environmental sciences, physics, astronomy and chemistry, materials science and engineering, computing, business and economics, humanities, social and behavioural science and law.
View and read
Read Springer ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
Springer ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click PDF to download, save or print a chapter.
Download the book
Some Springer ebooks are available for download in PDF format. To download, you need to:
- install Adobe Reader
set your preferences to display PDF in browser
click the blue button ‘Download Book PDF’.
Springer ebooks and mobile devices
You can transfer Springer ebook chapters to any ebook reader that supports Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). See the ADE website for a list of compatible devices.
Wiley Online Library includes scholarly ebooks on clinical medicine and physical sciences, business, economics and finance, engineering and computer science, psychology, sociology, media and communications and cultural studies.
View and read
Read Wiley ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents. Select the chapter you want to read.
Number of users
All Wiley ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click PDF under a chapter heading to download and save or print.
Wiley Online books and mobile devices
Wiley ebook chapters are available for download to your device. See: Opening your e-book on your reading device.
Elsevier ScienceDirect includes scholarly ebooks on clinical medicine, biological and food sciences, agriculture, engineering, computer science, astronomy, earth and planetary sciences, environmental science, chemistry, materials science, psychology and health.
View and read
Read Elsevier ScienceDirect ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
Elsevier ScienceDirect ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click Download PDF under a chapter heading to download and save or print.
Elsevier ScienceDirect ebooks and mobile devices
Elsevier ebook chapters are available for download onto your device.
The O’Reilly for Higher Education Collection includes ebooks on computer science and digital media from leading publishers including O’Reilly, Microsoft, Sams, Cisco and Peachpit, IBM Press and Adobe.
View and read
Read O’Reilly ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and search or browse the database.
Number of users
O’Reilly ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Use the print option in your browser to print pages.
Download
O’Reilly ebooks are available to download and read offline via the mobile app.
O'Reilly ebooks and mobile devices
You can access O’Reilly ebooks and read online on any mobile device. See Support Center — Mobile.
Knovel includes ebooks on physical sciences, technology and engineering.
View and read
Read Knovel ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents. Select the chapter or section you want to read.
Number of users
Knovel ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Print and download
Print individual pages or sections using the print or download icons on the top navigation bar.
Books 24x7 includes the ebook collections: FinancePro, EngineeringPro, ITPro and BusinessPro.
View and read
Read Books 24x7 ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents. Select the chapter or section you want to read.
Number of users
Each 24x7 ebook collection has a limit of five concurrent users.
Print one section at a time using the print option in your browser.
Download
24x7 ebooks are not available for download.
Books 24x7 and mobile devices
You can access Books 24x7 ebooks and read online on any mobile device with a web browser. See Books 24x7 Mobile.
OECD iLibrary includes ebooks and statistical data published by the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD).
View and read
Read OECD iLibrary ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
OECD iLibrary ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Use the browser icons to download, print or save a PDF.
Elgaronline includes ebooks on internet and technology law, information, media and telecommunications law, cultural heritage and arts law, biotechnology, pharmacology and intellectual property.
View and read
Read Elgaronline ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
Elgaronline ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Print and download
Click Download PDF next to chapter headings to download and print.
CCHIntelliConnect includes ebooks from legal publisher CCH. Swinburne subscribes to the Australia, New Zealand and Asia collections.
View and read
Read CCH ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Download, print and save
You can download, save and print a single copy of an article/chapter.
ePlatform by Wheelers Books includes ebooks on law topics published by Wolters Kluwer CCH and LexisNexis.
View and read
Read Wheelers Books online in your web browser: at the homepage, click Sign In and login with your SIMS username and password.
Find the title you want and click Borrow. Next, click Read. Select the menu icon from the top navigation bar to load the table of contents. Click on a chapter heading to view it. To navigate through a chapter, swipe pages from the right. To return to the table of contents, select the menu icon again.
Number of users
Wheelers ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
To print pages, use the print option in your browser.
Emerald Insight includes ebooks on business, management and social sciences.
View and read
Read Emerald ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
Emerald ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click PDF under a chapter heading to download and print or save.
Taylor & Francis includes ebooks on engineering and technology, mathematics and statistics, chemistry, food science, computer science and information technology, physical, life, earth, environmental and health sciences, nursing and behavioural sciences.
View and read
Read Taylor & Francis ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
Taylor & Francis ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click Download next to a chapter heading to download and save or print.
SPIE Digital Library includes ebooks on optics and photonics.
View and read
Read SPIE Digital Library ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
SPIE Digital Library ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click PDF next to each chapter heading to download, print or save.
ICE Virtual Library includes ebooks published by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
View and read
Read ICE ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
ICE ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click PDF under a chapter heading to download, print or save.
IEEEXplore includes ebooks on computer science, electrical and electronics engineering.
View and read
Read IEEEXplore ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
IEEEXplore ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click the PDF icon above a chapter to download, print or save.
IOP Science includes ebooks published by the Institute of Physics.
View and read
Read IOP ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
IOP ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click PDF below a chapter heading to download, print or save.
IOP ebooks on mobile devices
IOP offers the ePub3 format, which optimises a book for reading on a device. To use it, download the file and open with an e-reader. E-readers are available from Apple or Google Play.
ASME Digital Collection includes ebooks published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
View and read
Read ASME ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
ASME ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click on the PDF near chapter headings to download and print or save.
ASCE Library includes ebooks published by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
View and read
Read ASCE ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the table of contents.
Number of users
ASCE ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click Download above chapter headings to download, print or save.
Access Engineering includes ebooks on all engineering topics.
View and read
Read Access Engineering ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to browse or search the collection.
Number of users
Access Engineering has a limit of one concurrent user.
Download, print and save
Users must register to print or download PDF pages.
Access Science includes ebooks on all science topics.
View and read
Read Access Science ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to browse or search the collection.
Number of users
Access Science has a limit of two concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Use the browser print icon to print pages. Users must register to save content.
Credo reference includes over 500 dictionaries, encyclopaedias and biographical dictionaries.
View and read
Read Credo reference ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the contents.
Number of users
Credo reference ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Download, print, save or email sections using the icons at the top of a page.
Oxford reference includes dictionaries, encyclopaedias and companions published by Oxford University Press in most subject areas, plus English language dictionaries and usage guides.
View and read
Read Oxford reference ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the contents.
Number of users
Oxford reference ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Print, email or save
Print or email sections using the icons at the top of a page. To save content, you must register with Oxford reference.
For further help and advice about accessing and using ebooks:
Need more information?
Ask us a question or leave us feedback by emailing library@swinburne.edu.au or calling 1300 794 628. Alternatively, complete this form so our team members can get in touch with you.