Find and use ebooks
Find out how to access and use ebooks at Swinburne Library.
To find ebooks. search the library catalogue. Type in keywords and refine your results to 'books'. At the paper clip icon, click ‘access online’.
You can also search or browse a database that includes ebooks. We’ve provided information and links to some of these further down this page.
Use these links to navigate to ebook collection:
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 or account before you can print or 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.
Note
Some Ebook Central books are ‘read online’ only and do not allow printing or copying.
Books that do not allow copying or printing will include this information on the details page:
- copy is not available for this book
- print and chapter download are not available for this book.
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 Details 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 PDF on the navigation bar 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, search the database and limit your results to books. .
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, search the database and limit your results to books
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, search the database and limit your results to book chapters
Number of users
Elsevier ScienceDirect ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Click View 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.
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.
Skillport includes ebooks on information technology, business, engineering and finance.
View and read
Read Skillport ebooks online in your web browser (Chrome is recommended): login with your SIMS username and password to view the book collection.
Number of users
Skillport ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Print one page at a time using the print page option in your browser. .
Download
Skillport ebooks are not available for download.
OECD Publications includes reports and research papers, policy papers and briefs published by the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD).
View and read
Read OECD publications ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the contents.
Number of users
OECD publications 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.
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 select Sign In with SSO (Single Sign-On).
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.
When you are finished, click the back button on your browser and click Return.
Number of users
Wheelers ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
To print pages, use the print option in your browser.
Oxford Scholarship Online includes ebooks from Oxford University Press. Swinburne has access to the law collection.
View and read
Read Oxford Scholarship ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the contents.
Number of users
Oxford Scholarship ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Use the PDF icon in an open chapter 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
Click Download PDF to download and save chapters or articles and the PDF print icon to print.
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
Click Download PDF to download and save chapters or articles and the PDF print icon to print.
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 PDF in an open chapter to download, print or save.
ASM Handbooks include ebooks on materials selection, processing, testing and performance.
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
ASM Handbooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print and save
Use the PDF icons 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.
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 sections using the browser print option; email using the icon at the top of a page. To save content, select the save icon and create a personal profile.
Sage Research Methods includes ebooks on research methodologies and concepts.
View and read
Read Sage ebooks online in your web browser: login with your SIMS username and password to view the contents.
Number of users
Sage Research Methods ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users.
Download, print or save
Use the PDF icon within chapters to download, print or save.
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.