eBook Collections
NetLibrary

Accessing the Maryland Digital Library Collection
(Users' Guide)

NetLibrary is the largest vendor that supplies collections of online books (eBooks). All college and university campuses participationg in the Maryland Digital Library (MDL) project have access to a basic collection of reference works and other monographs. Campuses may also purchase additional books from NetLibrary for their own use or to share with other campuses.*

A single eBook may be viewed by only one MDL user at a time.

Connect to NetLibrary

Connect to Research Port or select Databases from Soper Homepage.

Create a NetLibrary Account

In order to check out eBooks, you must create a user account and log in (logging in is not required for previewing eBooks-see below for more info on previewing and checking out eBooks). Accounts must be created at a computer on the user's campus.

To create an account:

1. Click on Create an Account (located on the top and bottom of the main screen)
2. Enter a username and password and the other requested information.
3. Click on the Submit button.

Log in to your Account

To login to your NetLibrary Account:

1. Click on the Log In icon at the top of the main screen.
2. Enter your username and password.
3. Click on Log In .

Searching for eBooks

Under Search for eBooks, enter search terms in the Title, Author, Keywords, and/or Full-Text boxes. You may also select a Publisher from the pull-down menu.

Include Public eBooks Option: Check the box next to this option to include public domain ("free") titles, such as the Project Gutenberg books.

Click on the Search button to submit your search terms.

Power Searching: Use the Power Search option on the search screen to search additional fields and define the order and format of search results.

Search Results-Previewing and Checking Out Books

All eBooks available through the MDL are labeled "Library collection" in the results list.

Bibliographic Information: Click on the title of a book for bibliographic information and a thumbnail graphic of the book cover.

Preview an eBook: eBooks may be previewed in 15-minute intervals. You will be allowed an additional 15 minutes as long as another MDL user has not requested the book. Logging into a NetLibrary account is not necessary to preview a title.

To preview an eBook, simply click on the Preview icon.

When finished previewing, click on the Close eBook icon at the top of the screen.

Checkout an eBook: To checkout an eBook, you must be logged into NetLibrary. Once you have checked out a title, you have exclusive access to the eBook for 2 hours. The eBooks will automatically be checked in when the checkout period expires. While you view a book, a status window will be displayed with the checkout time remaining.

To checkout an eBook:

1. Click on the Checkout icon.
2. Click on the Online button to view the book on the screen.
   Click on the Download button to view the eBook offline using the NetLibrary Reader software. This software must be downloaded from the NetLibrary home page and installed on your PC for the download option to function. The 2-hour checkout period and single user restriction are still in effect. Afer a book is checked in, it will not longer be available on your PC.

When finished viewing the eBook:

1. Click on the Close eBook icon at the top of the screen.
2. At the next screen, click on the Check in icon.

Reading an eBook

One page of an eBook will appear on a screen in the left frame. Navigation buttons are available on the screen to navigate through the book. The Table of Contents and index (if available) will appear in the right frame on the screen. The right frame may be made smaller to increase the size of the book page. Use the "+" sign on the Table of Contents headings for more specific content information.

Printing/Downloading eBook Content

The content of an eBook may be printed or downloaded one page at a time using your web browser's print and download functions.

Logging out of Your Account

Click on the Log Out icon at the top of the main screen to log out of your account.

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*Your campus MDL representative should contact Betty Day at the University of Maryland, College Park for more information on campus-specific eBook title purchases.