Find ebooks
All students and staff can access our ebooks, just follow the instructions below. You have access to over 250,000 ebooks through the Library.
Video (3:10)
Find ebooks by searching:
Limit to ebooks using “Source Types":
Open the ebook by clicking "Online Access":
In the Library Catalogue.
Limit to ebooks using “Format":
Open the ebook by clicking the arrow link:
Download a chapter PDF
The best option for reading offline is to download a chapter PDF from the table of contents of the ebook.
- These chapter PDFs are searchable, selectable, include a citation and do not expire.
- Chapter downloads refresh daily, allowing you to download an additional chapter after 24 hours.
- You only need an internet connection when you download.
- You do not need to install extra software.
- You share the ebook more fairly with other students. Sometimes the publishers have limits on the number of people who can download or read an ebook online at any one time. If you use the option to download a chapter, more people can access the book at the same time.
Read downloaded chapters on any device that supports PDF file types – which includes most tablets, phones and other mobile devices.
You can then transfer files between devices in whatever way your device supports file sharing (email, save to the cloud, AirDrop, etc.).
Open the ebook
Click "Online Access":
In the Library Catalogue.
Click the arrow link:
In your Blackboard course reading list
Note which chapter you are asked to read then open the book by clicking "View Online".
If the ebook opens in the chapter you need, hover over the icons at the top to find “Chapter Download”.
Find the chapter and download
Proquest
Springer
EBSCO
Read chapter offline
The downloaded chapter PDF can be saved and read on your device offline. You can also transfer the PDF to another device to read. Should you need another chapter from the same ebook, repeat these steps after 24 hours, once your download allowance has refreshed.
Other options for reading offline
You can choose to download an ebook to read offline using the free Adobe Digital Editions software. This is like borrowing the book from the Library, as your book download will expire after 1-7 days.
Some ebooks have limited user licences, so downloading a whole book may block other students from using it.
For these reasons, the Library recommends chapter downloading for reading offline.
The Library recommends you download ebook content chapter by chapter to read offline on your mobile device (see above Reading ebooks offline for instructions). You can transfer downloaded chapter files between devices in whatever way your device supports file sharing, such as email, save to the cloud or AirDrop.
How long can I borrow an ebook for?
- If you download by chapter, you can keep the chapters for as long as you like.
- If you download the whole book to Adobe Digital Editions, you can borrow the book for 1-7 days.
The book I want says "Reached user limit" and I cannot open the book. What does this mean, and what should I do?
- This means 1-3 students have chosen to download the whole book or they are reading the book online and thus blocking the book for other students.
- You should try again later to view the book.
What does the Library do to help us access ebooks that often "Reach user limit"? These books are really important for my studies and I am frustrated that they are not available.
- We keep an eye on ebooks that "reach user limit" and order more copies if this happens often. But we do ask that students follow the guidelines to download by chapter to prevent this as much as possible.
What can I do if I search for a book I want in Library Search and it is not available as an ebook?
- You can place a request for digitised chapters or portions of books with our inter-library loan service.
- Go to the Interloans webpage and then login to the Interloan service using your AUT login and password.
- For more help, email the Interloans team at interloans@aut.ac.nz.
What about accessibility? How can I use my screen reader to read an ebook?
- For ProQuest ebooks (our largest provider) laptops and desktop computers will support screen readers.
- Read more information about accessibility mode in ProQuest