Downloading ebooks - software required

We understand some students have been struggling to read downloaded ebooks because they do not have the right software on their device.

You do in fact need specific software if you want to download a library ebook rather than read the book online. This is because publishers apply Digital Rights Management to their ebook files to protect against licence infringement (eg copying more than the licence allows) and to expire the book after the download period comes to an end. 

There are notes on our library catalogue records to that effect: 

for VLEbooks: 

System requirements: Adobe Digital Editions is required for viewing the full text of downloaded ebooks on PCs and laptops. This can be downloaded from VLeBooks after clicking on help, if not installed already. An Adobe ID is required to read VLeBooks on either an Android or Apple iOS phone or tablet. The VLeBooks eBook reader app can then be installed from the Apple App store and the Play Store app.

for Proquest ebooks: 

System requirements: Adobe Digital Editions or Bluefire is required for viewing the full text of downloaded ebooks on PCs / laptops, Apple IOS or Android devices. They can be downloaded from Ebook Central. An Adobe ID is required.

Those are are our two main ebook providers, we do have others which will have their own requirements but in general Adobe Digital Editions is likely to be required. This software is free to download here https://www.adobe.com/uk/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html. 

If you have installed Adobe Digital Editions but still have problems opening an ebook file, please contact us.

Dawsonera ebooks - downloading via Digital Editions needs latest version

We've had this message from the Dawsonera team:

We would like to advise all dawsonera users that it is our immediate recommendation to ensure that all instances of Digital Editions (desktop & mobile applications) are running version 4.5.x and that the latest version of the software should always be upgraded as soon as it becomes available.

On the 19th December 2018 we will be undertaking modifications and security enhancements to dawsonera that might cause issues when trying to open ebooks in older versions of Digital Editions. We therefore ask you to check that you are running Digital Editions 4.5.x and to upgrade the software if you are running an older version to ensure the best user experience possible.

This only refers to downloading the ebook to your device, not to reading it online, and only when selecting Adobe Digital Editions under Select Reader.

 

Dawsonera ebooks download - Adobe Digital Editions Switchover

Dawsonera have almost finished switching all their ebooks from .pdf files to .acsm (Adobe Digital Editions) files.


From the 1st November all Dawsonera content (both PDF’s & ePub’s) downloaded will be via an ACSM file which can be opened with Adobe Digital Editions and the Bluefire Reader;


Windows/Mac users can download Adobe Digital Editions (http://www.adobe.com/uk/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html)


The Bluefire Reader (http://www.bluefirereader.com/bluefire-reader.html) is also available for iOS, Android and Windows. 

Downloading Dawsonera ebooks - update

Dawsonera are currently in the process of changing the way they deliver ebook downloads (when you download to your device to read later, not the Read Online option). 

• At the moment there are two types of files .pdf and .acsm. The .pdfs are being removed over the next couple of months and replaced with .acsm - these .acsm files will use Digital Editions or Bluefire Reader. 

• Meanwhile those files which are still .pdf need to be read in Adobe Reader. (Not in your browser - Chrome for example has a built in PDF Viewer that overrides the systems default PDF reader. Chrome then can’t read the DRM and fails to read the file. If you go to your download folder and open the .pdf file from there in Adobe Reader it should open without issue.)