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E-Books at UC Library

Guide to accessing and using e-books at University of Canberra.

About Downloading

UC Library e-books CANNOT be downloaded to student or staff computers on campus, but you can read them online using student or staff computers. Downloading is only necessary when you would like to add the e-book to a portable device, such as a tablet, e-book reader or smartphone.

Downloaded e-books will stay on your portable device for the length of the loan, they will no longer be accessible once the loan period has expired. You can renew the loan by downloading the book again.

Reading Online

  • You may access, use, print, and download most e-books at any time
  • You do not need to loan an e-book to be able to read it online
  • Reading online means that the book is currently "in use" so if there is only 1 user access no one else can read this book, please remember to log off or return the book once you have finished reading online so others can access the book.

 Please see individual platforms within this guide for informaiton on downloading and reading e-books online. 

E-Book Formats

What is EPUB? 

EPUB is an electronic book format that has become the industry standard, allowing e-books that use this format to be read on a wide variety of e-readers (except Kindle), from dedicated hardware to desktop software to online based readers. More information about EPUB.

What is Mobi?

.mobi format is the native format for e-books used on Amazon Kindle reading devices. More information about using mobi e-books on Kindles or computers.

EPUB and Kindle formats explained

What is PDF?

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format that has captured all the elements of a printed document as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print, or forward to someone else. PDF files are created using Adobe Acrobat, Acrobat Capture, or similar products. Library e-books are available in PDF format but most have more security than an ordinary PDF file. To view and use Library e-book PDF files, you need to first download the free program, Adobe Digital Editions to your computer. Once on your computer, it will start automatically whenever you download a Library e-book. Download Adobe Digital Editions.

Downloading to Amazon's Kindle Fire E-Reader

E-Books can be downloaded directly to the Kindle Fire via the free Bluefire Reader app:

1. Install Bluefire Reader (use the Bluefire instructions for Kindle Fire). (There is a simple setting change required on the device to enable the app to be installed)
2. Once the app is installed and authorised, find the book you want and click ‘download’.

Other options:

1. You can also transfer downloaded content from your PC (not campus PC) to a Kindle Fire via Adobe Digital Editions. You will need to download Adobe Digital Editions to your PC and create an Adobe account on the Adobe website. Your Kindle Fire can then be validated using your Adobe account name. 
2. You can also read e-books online without downloading them using the Kindle Fire's web browser.

Downloading to Mobile Devices via a PC

NOTE: This cannot be done on student or staff computers on campus.

To download to a personal computer or to transfer from a PC to a portable device and read e-books offline, you will need to install Adobe Digital Editions and create an Adobe account on the Adobe website.

Once this program is installed, you can use the download function on the e-book website. You can validate up to 6 devices (PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, ipads etc) with one Adobe account. E-books can then be downloaded from your PC to any of your registered devices.