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:

Find ebooks

Find ebooks

Watch this video to learn how to find ebooks using the library search.

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:

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.

Major ebook collections at Swinburne Library

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:

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:

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.

Print

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

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.

Other ebook collections: Law and Business 

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.

Print

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.

Other ebook collections: Science and Engineering 

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.

Encyclopedias, dictionaries and handbooks 

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.

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