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Turku University Library

E-books

How to find suitable e-books?

Browse the library collections in the Volter database

The Volter database contains all e-books and printed books acquired by Turku University Library

  • If you already have a book in mind, you can search directly by book title.
  • You can also search by keywords and limit your search to electronic materials. This will give you an overview of what is already in the library's collections.

As the library does not currently index all electronic materials separately, it is advisable to choose words in the language in which the material is written. For general help on searching for information, see the library's Basics of Information Seeking - guide.

The book you want is not in Volter?

If you can't find the book you are looking for in the Volter database, you can send an acquisition request or a coursebook acquisition request to the library.

How many simultaneous users?

Don't worry! If you are uncertain about whether a book is suitable for use as course book (e.g. whether it permits multiple concurrent users), the library staff will sort it out based on the information you've provided in the coursebook acquisition request. If it isn't possible to acquire what you have asked for, we will contact you and discuss your options.

Browsing books by subject

If you are looking for new resources for your course, you can browse books by subject on most e-book providers' platforms. Check the relevant faculty tabs in this guide for more information about e-book providers in your field of research and teaching.

 

  • Not all books are available as e-books!
  • Not all e-books are available for library use; many e-textbooks in English are only sold to individual users, not libraries.
  • Sometimes a publisher (e.g. Springer) only sells e-books as part of larger book packages – the price of such packages can be unaffordable to the Library.
  • All e-books do not automatically permit multiple concurrent users.

However, no worries! But do not despair! You don't have to find out in advance whether the book is suitable as an e-book, for example in terms of the number of simultaneous users. The library will determine this on the basis of the information provided in your coursebook acquisition request.  If the acquisition proposal is not feasible, we will contact you to clarify the matter further.

How to use an e-book as a course book?

As a rule, you can use e-books within the University network without separate identification. Remote access is also possible for all students and faculty/staff members at the university by using the UTU user ID and password.

You can read all e-books online. A majority of the books can also be downloaded onto your computer for a certain length of time. The loan period varies from 1 day to 14 days and closes automatically. Most of the e-books can be read on both Android and iPad.

Certain e-book providers require special reading software. You can find more information about this and about using mobile devices in the Software needed -tab.

Reading e-books online does not normally require any special software. An exception to this is Ellibs for domestic books.  To read Ellibs books, you need to create an account, after which you can read the book online or download it for either 1 or 14 days.

To download a book to your computer, you need Adobe Digital Editions reader and an Adobe ID to use the following e-books: Ellibs, Ebook Central. Free IDs can be created on the Adobe website. Not all books can be downloaded to your computer.

Copying and printing options vary from book to book. The book description text indicates the level of copy protection for each e-book. For more information, please consult the e-book catalogue.

 

Even if you are reading online, it might be a good idea to create a free account to the service provider's platform.  After creating an account and signing in, most service providers will let you

  • make virtual notes on the pages or on the whole book
  • make digital bookmarks and virtual underlines
  • save books into your own digital bookshelf or library

Send all course requirements to the library

  • Most of the electronic books are acquired as large e-book packages. However, the contents of such packages may change even after purchasing. Therefore, it is very important to inform the library of all the required readings of the course in question, including the readings based on material already found in the library. By doing this, the library can acquire permanent access to the material. Send requirements to  information specialist of your discipline.

 

  • Please let the library know about the materials no longer included in course requirements: an up to date course book collection serves both the students and the teachers better.

How to make the e-book available to students?

An e-book at its best:

  • No queuing
  • No  need to return the book
  • No need to worry about due dates and fees
  • Could make a difference in studying and graduating faster

Improves finding information in the book:

  • Enables searching the book contents by using search words
  • The reader software enables reading offline, making virtual notes and underlines

Enables studying anytime and anywhere:

  • No more high book piles
  • No need for extra space
  • E-books can be taken everywhere in a laptop/tablet

Students want more e-books (according to, e.g., Turku University Library's customer satisfaction survey LibQual).

As soon as you have found a suitable course book, make a coursebook acquisition request.

Although there is a question about publication format in the request form, you don't need to know whether the book is available in e-format or print or available to organisations – the Library will find it out for you.

If you have already found suitable electronic course material in Ebook Central, you can send an acquisition request by clicking  ”Request this book”, and your proposal will be sent to the library.

  • Allow time for the acquisition. Access to an e-book can often be provided quickly – even on the same day, if the library already has an agreement with the publisher or provider. With a new publisher, however, it might take some time to negotiate the license and set up the service.
  • The aim is to acquire e-books with unlimited concurrent access. However, sometimes the access is allowed only for 1 to 3 simultaneous users. This may be enough for intermediate or advanced studies or if the book is optional.
  • Printing and copying regulations for e-books vary between different providers.For more information, see the section on e-book databases in this guide.

Links to study materials

Search for the electronic book or article you want, continue to the next window under Available Online, then click on the PERMALINK icon. All links to learning materials should always be checked outside the university network to make sure they work!