History: E-Books

How to Use Perlego

1. Accessing Perlego

• Sign in to your Perlego account via the web browser or mobile app.
• Use the search bar to find the book you're looking for. You can search by title, author, or topic.
• Once you’ve found the eBook, click on it to open it.

2. Highlighting and Annotating

As you read, you can highlight sections of the text or add notes:

• Select the text you want to highlight by clicking and dragging over it.
• A small toolbar will appear, allowing you to highlight the text or add a note.
• These highlights and notes are saved to your Perlego account and can be accessed from anywhere, as long as you're logged in.

3. Printing (Limited)

• Printing is not available in Perlego as you would find in traditional eBook platforms like ProQuest or JSTOR.
• If you need to print something from Perlego, your best option is to manually take notes from the book.

4. Reading and Navigating the Book

• Use the Table of Contents on the left side of the screen to jump between chapters.
• You can adjust the font size, line spacing, and brightness in the reading interface by clicking on the text settings icon.

5. Search Within a Book

• If you want to find a specific term or section within the book, use the search bar at the top while reading. This will help you quickly navigate to relevant sections of the eBook.

ProQuest eBook Central

Saving or Downloading Chapters:

• Navigate to the eBook in ProQuest eBook Central.
• Click on the Download Chapter button located near the chapter title.
• You may be prompted to select the citation style and agree to the terms of usage (depending on the DRM limits).
• Download the chapter in PDF format, which will be saved to your device.

Printing:

• Open the eBook and go to the chapter you want to print.
• Click the Print to PDF option (located at the top of the viewer).
• Select the range of pages you want to print (often limited to a set number of pages per session).
• Confirm, and the PDF version will open in your browser for printing.

Emailing:

• While there’s no direct email option, you can download the chapter as a PDF and then email it through your preferred email service.

3. General eBook Platforms (e.g., Springer, JSTOR)

Saving or Downloading Chapters:

• Most eBook platforms offer the ability to download individual chapters in PDF format.
  • Navigate to the chapter.
  • Look for a Download PDF button.
  • Save the file to your device.

Printing:

• Navigate to the chapter and click on the Print icon (often found in the toolbar).
• Select the number of pages or range allowed by the platform.

Open your library's website and navigate to the Primo catalogue or  "Library Catalogue Primo."

1. Sign in:
   If required, sign in using your university credentials (student/staff ID and password) to access the full range of resources.

2. Search for e-books:
   Use the search bar to enter keywords, titles, authors, or subjects related to the e-book you are looking for. You can use quotation marks around phrases for a more specific search.

3. Filter your search:
   Once the search results are displayed, use the filters on the left side of the screen to narrow down the results. Under "Resource Type", select "eBooks" to display only the available e-books.

4. Access the e-book:
   In the search results, click on the title of the e-book you are interested in. This will take you to the detailed record of the book.

5. View online:
   In the book's record, look for the " Online" or "Full Text Available" link. This will redirect you to the platform where the e-book is hosted, such as ProQuest, EBSCO, or another e-book provider.

6. Read or download the e-book:
   Depending on the e-book platform, you can either read the book online or download sections/chapters for offline reading. Some platforms may require you to create a personal account or use specific software like Adobe Digital Editions for downloading.

7. Check usage rights:
   Be mindful of any usage restrictions, such as limits on printing or downloading sections of the e-book.

Highlighting and Note-Taking:

• Many eBook platforms offer built-in tools that allow users to highlight specific text and take notes while reading.
• These notes are often stored within the eBook and can be easily accessed later, making it convenient to review important points or study key concepts.
• Notes and highlights may also be exported or synced across devices, depending on the platform.

• Searching within the Book:

• A common feature in eBooks is the ability to search for specific words, phrases, or topics within the text.
• ​​​​​​​This saves time by allowing readers to jump directly to the relevant sections, which is particularly useful for academic research or finding key information in large texts.
• Some platforms also offer advanced search options, such as filtering by chapter or section.
• Adjusting Reading Preferences:

• Most eBook platforms provide customization options to enhance the reading experience.

• Users can adjust the font size, font type, line spacing, and background color (e.g., night mode for low-light reading).

• These features allow readers to tailor the display to their preferences, making reading more comfortable and accessible for different visual needs.

• Accessing Citations:

  • Many eBook platforms provide tools to generate automatic citations in various styles, such as APA, Harvard, MLA, and Chicago.
  • This feature is particularly useful for academic writing, allowing users to quickly create accurate citations and avoid plagiarism.
  • Citations can often be copied directly or exported to citation management tools like EndNote, Zotero, or RefWorks.

• Creating and Organizing Bookshelves/Collections:

  • Users can organize their eBooks into personalized bookshelves or collections based on topics, courses, or research projects.
  • This helps in efficiently managing large numbers of eBooks and quickly accessing them when needed.
  • Some platforms may offer tagging options or folders, allowing further customization for organizing content.

• Accessibility Features:

  • Many eBook platforms are designed with accessibility in mind, offering features like text-to-speech for users who prefer or need to listen to the text being read aloud.
  • Some platforms also integrate with screen readers, and users may have the ability to adjust settings such as contrast, fonts, or background colors to accommodate visual impairments.
  • These features make eBooks more inclusive and usable for individuals with different needs.

• Offline Reading:

  • Several eBook platforms allow users to download eBooks for offline reading, especially through mobile apps.
  • Once downloaded, the eBook can be accessed without an internet connection, which is ideal for users who may not have consistent access to Wi-Fi or data.
  • Downloaded eBooks usually sync back with the user's online account when reconnected, updating notes, highlights, and reading progress.