Borrowing e-books

McGill Library clients can borrow downloadable e-books from the Library through any of the following sources

1. McGill Overdrive
2. EBSCOhost
3. Non-DRM ebooks
4. Free online sources

To determine which formats are compatible with your portable device, visit the Device Resource Center.

1. McGill Overdrive

DRM protected e-books in Adobe PDF and Adobe EPUB format.

For full instructions on how to borrow from McGill OverDrive, visit the Getting Started page.

Authentication

You need your McGill ID barcode and PIN number in order to log in and be able to borrow from McGill OverDrive.

Software Requirements

Adobe® Digital Editions is required for downloading of e-books in Adobe PDF and Adobe EPUB format to a computer. Activating Adobe Digital Editions using an Adobe ID allows you to do more with Adobe eBooks, such as downloading them on multiple computers and transferring them to supported portable devices. To create a free Adobe ID click here.

Lending period

7, 14, or 21 days (user defined)

Mobile download

DRM protected EPUB e-books and MP3 audiobooks from OverDrive can be downloaded to an Apple device directly and read in the OverDrive Media Console app. For instructions consult Downloading e-books and e-audiobooks from McGill OverDrive to iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch

The OMC app is available also for Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7.

2. EBSCOhost

DRM protected Adobe PDF e-books. EBSCOhost e-books can be either viewed online or downloaded. Not all the available content is downloadable.

To browse only downloadable e-books, limit your search to Download Available.

On the search results list, select a title and click on “Download (Offline)"

Authentication

1. Off campus VPN connection or EZ Proxy login
2. Free EBSCOhost account.

Software requirements

1. Adobe® Digital Editions is required for downloading of e-books in Adobe PDF format to a computer. Activating Adobe Digital Editions using an Adobe ID allows you to do more with Adobe eBooks, such as downloading them on multiple computers and transferring them to supported portable devices. To create a free Adobe ID click here.
2. Adobe Reader is required for online viewing.

Lending period

1 - 7 days (user defined)

Mobile download

DRM protected PDF e-books from EBSCO can be downloaded to an Apple device directly and read in the Bluefire Reader app. For instructions consult Downloading EBSCOhost e-books on the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch

3. Non-DRM e-books

Non-DRM e-books in PDF format from Springer, Wiley, Gale, Science Direct, PsycBOOKS and any other provider who offers books in PDF format (the list is not exhaustive):

Authentication

Off campus VPN connection or EZ Proxy login.

Software requirements

Adobe Reader is required for downloading PDF files.

Lending period

N/A

**The e-books from the following providers are not downloadable: Ebrary, Myilibrary, Safari, Books 24x7, Hein Online (the list is not exhaustive).

4. Free online sources of downloadable e-books

Manybooks.net

Manybooks.net provides access to free public domain and Creative Commons licensed ebooks from Project Gutenburg and other sources. The ebooks are available in a variety of formats.

Project Gutenberg

The original e-book source.

Google Book Search

World Wide Web

Kobo Books

Commercial e-book store which also offers close to 300 free e-books.