Library FAQs

Libraries have to purchase eBooks that are licensed for multiple users, which is more complex than buying an eBook for individual use (like you would for your Kindle for instance). Sometimes, publishers will only make a book available in digital format with a very limited licence, where only one, two or three users at a time can access the book. The Library may be able to buy extra licences, but this can be very expensive and may only be required for a short period, so is not cost effective.

Where an Essential item has a restricted licence like this, we will inform your lecturer so that they can help you plan ahead and avoid too many users trying to access it at the same time.

If you find that an eBook is already in use, you can usually “reserve” it, or at least request an alert for when it becomes available. 

See here for details of the Proquest Ebook Central wait list feature.