What is NetLibrary?
How do I access an eBook? Do I need an account to access NetLibrary?
What viewing options are available for NetLibrary eBooks?
What are the browser requirements?
Do I need to install any other software?
Can I print from NetLibrary?
Are there any known issues with using NetLibrary?
What if I still need help?
NetLibrary provides access to full-text scholarly, reference and professional eBooks (electronic books) from leading university, academic and professional publishers. These eBooks are digital versions of print books from a broad range of subject areas and topics. In many cases, the eBook copy is the only copy of the book owned by the library although in some cases a local print copy is also available.
For information about additional NetLibrary eContent, see NetLibrary eAudiobooks
How do I access an eBook? Do I need an account to access NetLibrary?
Enter NetLibrary using the link above. If you are off campus, you will be asked for your UTEID and password before being taken to the NetLibrary site. Once you enter the service, you will not be required to enter additional account info to use the eBooks although you may wish to create a free account.
To create an account, click on the "Create a free account" link in the upper right-hand corner of the NetLibrary screen and then enter your name, email address, and a password of your choosing. This account should NOT be your EID. With this free account, you can log in directly to NetLibrary from off campus without having to authenticate with your EID; however, you do not need an account to use NetLibrary or to view (read) an eBook online. An account lets you create a list of Favorites, make notes in individual full-text eContent items, and customize your account preferences.
For more help on this topic, see Account and Personalization
What viewing options are available for NetLibrary eBooks?
Viewing is the term that NetLibrary uses to describe reading the eBook title online. When you select an eBook to view, the online reader opens. The online reader is a tool that works through your browser and has built-in navigation tools developed specifically for reading eBooks. You can have up to four (4) eBook titles open in the online reader at any given time. The full-text of the eBook and a navigation bar display in the right-hand frame of the online reader; a tool palette displays in the left-hand frame.
During the time you are actively viewing the eBook (turning pages, searching within the full-text, etc.), it will be unavailable to others. After 15 minutes of inactivity, the eBook becomes available for someone else to view.
For many eBook titles, we have multiple electronic copies available. If you find that a particular eBook title is consistently unavailable, please request that we purchase additional copies of the eBook.
You will also see instructions within NetLibrary regarding downloading eBooks to devices like PDAs so that you can read the content off-line. This download option does not work in our subscription.
For more help on this topic, see Viewing Online
What are the browser requirements?
For more help on this topic, see Software Requirements
Do I need to install any other software?
In addition to the online reader, NetLibrary eBooks may also require that you install the following software:
For more help on this topic, see Software Requirements
You can print up to a maximum of 15 pages per eBook per hour using your browser's print function or the print function on the Adobe Acrobat toolbar. Walk-in users at the library and users affiliated via IP or proxy server may print up to 10 pages per hour per eBook. As a walk-in user, you can print more (up to 15 pages per hour) if you create a username and password.
Printing the entire eBook violates copyright laws and precautions are taken to protect those copyright laws. If a suspicious usage pattern indicates excessive printing or copying, the activity is logged and you will see a copyright warning message.
You can also try to copy and paste specific passages from an eBook rather than printing the entire page. Not all eBooks will allow you to copy and paste although many do.
For more help on this topice, see Copying (and Printing) Text
Are there any known issues with using NetLibrary?
Most of the reported problems from users are related to Mac OS X and Adobe Acrobat. The PDF files used by NetLibrary are compatible with most supported web browsers using the Schubert|it PDF Browser Plugin, a third-party plugin that supports in-browser viewing of PDF files. Mozilla, Firefox, Camino, Opera, Netscape, and Internet Explorer seem to work best with the Schubert|it PDF plugin. We cannot recommend Safari. Install it by opening the .dmg file you download, and then copy PDF Browser Plugin.plugin to the Library/Internet Plug-Ins folder of the hard drive. Once installed with that method, it should just work with Mozilla, Firefox, Camino, Opera, and Netscape without additional configuration.
For additional help using NetLibrary, please see NetLibrary's help pages, get help from a librarian at Ask a Librarian, or contact Paul Rascoe in the PCL Reference and Information Services department for additional troubleshooting assistance at prascoe@uts.cc.utexas.edu or 512-495-4262
