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Ebook Access and Usage

This guide provides information about accessing and using library ebooks.

Common Formats/Readers

The book you want may be available in more than one format and have one or more options for downloading. While there are others, there are three basic formats for most of the ebooks in our collection:

1. HTML (Hyper-Text Markup Language)- These books can be accessed with a web browser. The vendor and/or browser may provide additional ways to manipulate the text (e.g., enlargement, font change).

2. PDF (Portable Document Format)- This format is essentially an exact, digital copy of the book and is most familiar to most people. PDF versions can be read onscreen or downloaded. A common PDF reader is Adobe's Acrobat Reader (free download). You can't download an entire ebook as a PDF but you can download pages and chapters.

3. ADE (Adobe Digital Editions) - This format requires an additional piece of free, downloadable software known as Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) to be installed on the machine on which you intend to read the book (Note: You do not need to create an Adobe ID unless you wish to transfer/read the book on another device.) ADE supports both PDF and EPUB (Electronic PUBlication) formats and enables you to read your book across PC, MAC, tablets, and mobile devices. Barnes & Noble's Nook uses ADE. Depending on your browser, there may be an app which will permit you to download a book and read it in your browser offline. Additional apps are also available through both the App Store and Google Play.