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Ebooks

An introduction to how to find E-books in the library

AU Library Search for Ebooks

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Things to Keep in Mind about Ebooks

  • Not every print book in our collection is available as an ebook.
  • Most library ebook collections are presented in formats that are intended for viewing in a browser. Consult the help section on each platform for details and instructions. 
  • The ebook collections that the library subscribes to tend to be scholarly books rather than popular books.
  • Many of the ebooks and ebook collections that we subscribe to have restrictions on access and use. These restrictions are most often created by the owner of the content whether it be  thepublisher, author, or another party who maintains rights over the digital product. The conditions often determine who can access the ebook, whether more than one person can access it at the same time, how it can be accessed or used, or if it can be downloaded or printed. The following article provides a good overview of Digital Rights.
  

General Information about ebooks at American University

American University Library subscribes to a number of ebook collections. Remote access to most of the resources in this guide is restricted to current AU students, faculty, and staff.

If you are looking for a particular ebook, search for the title or author in the 'AU Library Search' box on this page or in the library's Catalog by to see if we have access to it. If you are looking to browse or search for ebooks on a particular topic, take a look at some of the general or subject-specific ebook collections that we have available.

How can I read an ebook?

Virtually all the library's ebooks can be read in a browser. Many ebooks can be downloaded in whole or in part as PDFs. Some ebooks can be downloaded in EPUB format (requires an Adobe Digital Editions account a compatible app).