Electronic Books (eBooks)

eBooks are electronic versions of printed books. In Spring 2002, Cabrillo College Library started to purchase electronic books. There are nearly 20,000 electronic books available for Cabrillo College student use.

eBooks can be viewed online from any computer connected to the Internet. Since eBooks are online, they are available at your convenience -- anywhere, anytime. eBooks are "checked out" to you only for the period of time you are actively reading online and they are "returned" for the next user at the end of your use. Only one reader at a time can read a book online.

Using eBooks from Cabrillo College campus computers (Aptos and Watsonville Center) is easy. No passwords or usernames are necessary.

Two ways to find eBooks from NetLibrary:

1. Search the library catalog. For example if you search for endangered species there will be close to 40 results. On the left side of the results screen select EBOOKS under the heading format. There were 13 EBOOKS found within the endangered species search. Select one and click on "Access this electronic book through the Internet"
2. From the library homepage at http://libwww.cabrillo.edu choose Full Text Articles and then, under General, select "NetLibrary E-Books”. You will then be able to search using the Keywords search text box.

To use eBooks from an off-campus computer:

• If you hoose Full Text Articles and then, under General, select "NetLibrary E-Books”, you will be asked to enter your library card’s barcode number and you will find yourself at the NetLibrary basic search screen.
  or,
  
• If you find an eBook through the library catalog and want to read it, you can click on "Access this electronic book through the Internet" and input your 14 digit library card barcode number to view / read the eBook you selected.

To use/read an eBook

1. After deciding to browse an eBook online you can read through the table of contents on the left side of the screen. You can also plunge right in and read sections of the book, page by page, using the arrow keys.
   
2. There is a built-in American Heritage English Language Dictionary to use for definitions and an audio component pronounces the words out loud. To see the definition, highlight any word in the text and then click on the dictionary tab on the left side of the screen.
   
3. The text portion of the screen (what you are reading) can be enlarged if you click on the "Hide Tools" button at the top.
   
4. When you are finished with an eBook, please click on the "Close Item" button at the top of the screen.

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July 2009 -- J. Bowen