Tips for using NetLibrary books

1. When you first bring up a NetLibrary ebook, you may need to resize the browser window. Be sure to click "View this ebook."

2. If you can't see the pages of the ebooks, you may need to install the Abobe Reader plugin.

3. Only one person can access a NetLibrary ebook at a time.  Unless you interact with the ebook within a fifteen minute period (turning pages, searching the text) the system will time you out after fifteen minutes and make the book available for someone else to use.

4. You can copy or print sections of a page using the "select" and "print" tools on the Adobe Reader toolbar.  Don't try to print using the print function on your browser, because it probably won't work.  Note that you can't copy or print large sections, because that is considered a copyright violation.

5. You can search the full text of the book for keywords using the search box in the lower left.  You can go to a specific page using the box in the upper right.

6. One very useful way to search NetLibrary ebooks is using the index at the back of the book.  If you click on "Index" at the end of the table of contents, you can look up the topic you're researching.  Sometimes page numbers are hyperlinked; other times you have to enter them in the box at the upper right.

7. You can save notes on the ebooks you read.  To do that you will have to create a personal account in NetLibrary.  Look for the "Notes" tab above the table of contents.

8. There is an online dictionary in NetLibrary for looking up words you encourter in the ebooks.  It is located in the left navigation area - look for the "dictionary" tab above the table of contents.

9. If you click on the "eContent Details" tab in the left navigation area there is an option to email yourself the bibliographic information about the book, which is useful if you want to cite it in a paper.

10. NetLibrary has an extensive help system that can be useful if you have other questions.

Rory Litwin

Last modified: August 2006