- Not all books are available as ebooks.
- Sometimes publishers simply don't make certain titles available electronically.
- Some ebooks can't be purchased by libraries.
- Publishers often sell their ebooks to individuals only, either through their own websites or through large ebook purchasing platforms like Kindle or Kobo. Textbook publishers - like Pearson, Cenage, McGraw Hill - only make their publications available to individual students, not libraries.
- Some ebooks can't be bought individually.
- Sometimes publishers only make their ebooks available in expensive bundles. An example of this is the DSM-V, which is bundled with other titles that would cost CUE Library thousands of dollars per year to license.
- Some ebooks are tied to specific online platforms that CUE Library doesn't have.
- Some ebooks are only available on platforms that CUE Library doesn't have - such as Freading or Hoopla. Our partnership with Edmonton Public Library gives students, staff, and faculty access to these ebook platforms when they register for a free L-Pass.
- Please note that linking directly to ebooks from EPL requires students to first register for an L-Pass and then to sign in with their L-Pass information before they can access the ebook.
- Some ebooks limit the number of people reading them at one time.
- Publishers determine the number of simultaneous users who can access an ebook. Common ebook licenses include:
- 1-user: only one person can read the ebook at a time
- 3-user: only three people can read the ebook at a time
- unlimited user: any number of people can read the ebook at a time
- non-linear user: only a certain number of uses are allowed within a calendar year
- Not all of these options are available for every ebook and licenses for multiple users typically cost more than a license for a single user. The choice of license will depend on factors such as the anticipated usage levels, what licenses are available, and at what price.
- Publishers determine the number of simultaneous users who can access an ebook. Common ebook licenses include:
If you are planning to assign readings from a library ebook or if you would like us to try to purchase a specific title for your course, please email Myrna dean (myrna.dean@concordia.ab.ca).
While Myrna cannot choose the ebooks for your courses, she can:
- determine if an ebook is available for the library to purchase
- discuss any restrictions on specific ebooks that the library already owns or licenses