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e-books and e-audiobooks: General Information & Resources

Popular Reading: Libby & OverDrive

decorative image with text. Text reads: Borrow ebooks and audiobooks. Libby. The reading app from our library, built by OverDrive

See our Popular Reading, Audiobooks, Magazines and more tab for how to access Libby and the OverDrive Virtual Library. The Libby App is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

For more information:  See Top 15 FAQ

How to Find eBooks at UW Libraries

UW Libraries offers e-books on a variety of subjects. You can search for ebooks using QuickSearch and using the 'books, eBooks and Media drop-down function, or you can go directly to the e-book platform of your choice.

Digital Rights Management

Many publishers and vendors of e-books use Digital Rights Management technology to limit copying, printing, and sharing

Adobe Digital Editions is required for some e-book resources, in order to download an entire e-book (chapters or sections are often available in standard PDF format). 

Search QuickSearch Scopes

UW Libraries QuickSearch: includes the collections of the University Libraries, UW Law Library, and the American Heritage Center. Searches almost everything.

Use this QuickSearch link to search Books, E-Books & Media.

Lastly, use this QuickSearch link to search Course Reserves.

Interlibrary Loan: UW students, faculty and staff can request books, journal volumes, journal articles and other materials, regardless of whether it is available in the UW Libraries, online or in libraries around the world. A free service! Interlibrary Loan link.

Academic eJournals & eBooks

Search eJournals or eBooks by subject or title.

eJournal and eBooks Search

Additional Academic e-book Resources

UW patrons can access ebooks licensed by UW Libraries on the following platforms:

Additionally, the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) provides a centralized listing of freely available academic e-books that can be accessed by anyone at no charge.  

A Note on User Limitations

UW Libraries purchases e-books as single-user, multiple-user, or unlimited-user titles. Below is a breakdown of potential user limits:

Ebook Central: titles are unlimited use, single-user, three simultaneous users, or 326 uses per year. Please note: ebrary is now a part of Ebook Central.

EBSCOhost: titles are single-user, three simultaneous users, or unlimited use.

OverDrive: all titles are single-user use.

Be Sure to Check Your Browser!

Users are allowed to read chapters and sections of most academic e-books online, and mobile devices with browser capabilities are compatible with most academic ebooks.

That said, before you begin reading ebooks online, check your browser for the following:

  • JavaScript enabled
  • Cookies enabled
  • Pop-ups allowed or 
  • Site is added to safe sites or exceptions

Please note: if you use a firewall or security software, you might need to modify your device's configuration.

Library Search/Retrieval Options

 

UW Libraries QuickSearch: includes the collections of the University Libraries, UW Law Library, and the American Heritage Center.

 


Prospector: a unified catalog of twenty-three academic, public and special libraries in Colorado and Wyoming. UW students, faculty and staff can borrow materials from Prospector.

 

 

yellow arrow on a sky blue boxInterlibrary Loan: UW students, faculty and staff can request books, journal volumes, journal articles and other materials, regardless of whether it is available in the UW Libraries, online or in libraries around the world. A free service!