Ebooks: Home
Welcome!
Welcome to the Ebooks libguide!
This guide is intended to help students and staff navigate Rice's ebook collection. Rice gets its ebooks from multiple providers, each with their own set of quirks and shortcomings. Navigating these sites can be frustrating, as they can contain counterintuitive features and redundant login processes. We created this guide to help people solve some of the common problems they might encounter during their search.
Note: This guide does not cover every ebook provider Fondren uses. If you are using a site that is not covered here, reach out to library staff for assistance.
Contents
Finding Ebooks - Describes how to find ebooks using OneSearch and how to identify the provider
Accessing and Downloading - Describes how to access and download texts from some of our most common providers
Navigating ProQuest - Describes the features and quirks of using ProQuest
Navigating EBSCOhost - Describes the features and quirks of using EBSCO
Textbooks - Has information about Course Reserves and describes the features and quirks of using OpenStax, a free Rice-affiliated textbook publisher
Public Ebook Resources - Briefly describes and links to three places to access free ebooks
Author Information
This guide and its graphics were created by Raiya Myren, a Rice undergraduate student and Fondren employee, and the Fondren Ambassador for Jones.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to the UX Office: fondrenux@rice.edu
Common Questions and Concerns
Why can't I download the entire book?
Some providers and licensing agreements do not allow you to download the complete text at one time, even with limited access. Most of these providers will allow you to download the book on a chapter by chapter or page by page basis, but you will most likely have a limited number of pages you can download.
Why can't I print out any of the ebook?
If you have already printed some of the book you might have reached your page limit. Otherwise, printing might not be available due to the licensing agreement.
Why can't I access an ebook even though it is in the Rice catalog?
Depending on the ebook and its DRM, there might be a limit on the number of people who can view the text at one time. This number can be a little as one person at a time to an unlimited number. If the ebook is temporarily unavailable, come back at a later date to try again and feel free to contact library staff to ask for assistance.
What if I can't find the ebook I am looking for?
If we do not have an online copy of a book you are looking for you can suggest a purchase by clicking here.
The library is currently working on expanding our ebook catalog, so don't hesitate to reach out!
Can't find the answer to your specific problem here?
Click here to contact our expert in house team!
DRM
What is DRM?
Digital Rights Management or DRM is the restrictions placed on accessing, downloading, and printing ebooks and online resources.
DRM is the reason you might be temporarily unable to access an ebook (due to limits on the number of people who can view a book at the same time), have to use a third-party app to download a book, and/or have page limits for printing and downloading.
While these restrictions are frustrating, they are often unavoidable.