Answered By: Kira Appel (Libraries)
Last Updated: Jan 24, 2024     Views: 529

Unfortunately, there are the following limitations for ebooks:

  • Not all books are available electronically (if the book is available in print, it will be placed on physical reserve at one of our library locations)

  • Some ebooks go out of print and are no longer available for purchase

  • The library cannot buy a physical book and scan it to create a digital version of that text

  • The library cannot buy individually licensed ebooks such as Amazon/Kindle and Barnes and Noble/Nook

  • The library can only buy electronic books that have an institutional license

  • Ebooks with institutional licenses range from single user to unlimited user. For Course Reserves, the library will choose the ebook license with the most generous terms possible to accommodate a high volume of use if it's available.

If faculty place a reserves request for an electronic version of a book and the library cannot fulfill that request, we will contact them. Subject Librarians may assist with finding alternatives. 

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