Using eBooks that the Phillips Library owns is a great way to provide information to your students at no cost to them. However, access to eBooks is complicated by several factors which you should be aware of before assigning the text.
Licensing and Copyright
The library enters a purchasing agreement with eBook vendors to allow all AU members access to the e-book collection. The agreement includes that the library must abide by the Copyright Act of 1976 and by any contractual restrictions, copyright restrictions, or other restrictions provided by publishers. Do keep in mind that even though the library has a subscription to e-book content, the vendor or publisher still have the right to make a title unavailable (this can sometimes happen but it is not typical), so do be cautious about making a decision to always use the same e-book for a course. Below is a list of some common restrictions you may encounter when accessing an e-book through the library's e-book collection.
- One User Access- Only one user can access the e-book at a time. The e-book becomes unavailable if the student downloads (counts as a check-out) the title.
- Three User Access- Only three users can access the e-book at a time. The e-book becomes unavailable if its currently being used by three users or downloaded.
- Unlimited Access- No limit to how many users can access the e-book.
- Concurrent Access- This a license model that allows up to 365 uses at a time. Once it reaches that limit, the e-book becomes unavailable but will reset annually.
Example of Publisher's Restrictions in EBSCO:
Example of Publisher's Restrictions in ProQuest:
For any questions you may have about e-books, please direct them to the Access and Collection Services Librarian