How may I use this e-book?

Are you ever browsing the library catalog and bump into information that looks like this? Have you wondered about that information next to Authorized Users, Concurrent Users, and Permitted Use? The information stored there tells you how you may use the resource.

When the library licenses e-books and databases we sign a contract with a supplier, and on the contract we agree on how we plan to use the resource (as well as what use is not acceptable). The information you see in our catalog (Authorized Users, Concurrent Users, and Permitted Use) comes right from those contracts.

We always try to negotiate with our suppliers to get you the most broad use possible. You’ll see in the example above that Concurrent Users says “Unlimited.” That means that more than one person can use that e-book at the same time. In fact, an entire class can be reading it together! If there are any restrictions on how many people can be reading an e-book at the same time, that information will be found next to Concurrent Users. If just one person can read the e-book at a time, there will be a number 1.

Check out the section about Permitted Use in the example above. It says that when you find a section of the e-book you like, you can download that section, print it, or save an electronic version of it. Your professor may assign this e-book to read in class, and they can link to it right from Blackboard. Your professor is even allowed to include some of the e-book in a course pack.

Now that you have read this blog post you know how you may ethically (and legally!) use the library’s electronic resources. Happy researching.