Frequently Asked Questions
What are ebooks?
An ebook is an electronic version of a printed book. Unlike print books the text is fully searchable.
How are ebooks accessed?
Some types of ebooks are delivered via the Internet and users must be online to read them. Other types of ebooks are downloaded to a user's PC or some other portable device such as a Rocket Book or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).
What is netLibrary?
Founded in 1998, netLibrary is a company that acquires electronic distribution rights to thousands of books and makes them available to users. GateWay has purchased access to a collection of over 1,800 recently published full-text titles covering all subject areas from netLibrary, suitable for our users. Also included are thousands of classic fiction and non-fiction titles found in netLibrary's public collection of over 3,000 public domain titles from such sources as "Project Gutenberg". ebooks can be "checked out" and read online through the netLibrary Web site.
Do I need special software to read ebooks via netLibrary?
No, it is all browser-based. Simply connect using the Internet.
What is a netLibrary account?
There are two ways to access ebooks at netLibrary. If you are visiting the netLibrary website from any computer on campus, you may search or browse ebooks as an anonymous user (no login required). To check out ebooks, you must first create a user account from a computer on-campus. When you create that account, you set your own username and password exclusively for using the GateWay netLibrary collection. This account is a separate account from your Library account. Once created, you can use your netLibrary user account to login from any computer with Internet access, even from home, to access the ebook collection.
How do I create an account?
From any Internet enabled computer ON-CAMPUS:
- Go to the netLibrary website at http://www.netlibrary.com
- Select Create An Account
- Fill in the online form (fields in red are required, and include your email address, and a username and password of your choice)
- Click on Submit
- Read the Terms of Use
- Click Accept
You may be asked to choose a different username, if the one you select is already taken. Once accepted, this will be the username and password you will use every time you login to check-out titles from netLibrary.
Once your account is established, you can use your account to login from any computer with Internet access, even from home. Your account must first be established from on ON-CAMPUS computer.
Can I use it from off-campus?
Yes, however, an account must be established from on-campus prior to remote use. After your account is set-up, simply access netLibrary and Log-In with your username and password to have access to all of the ebooks in the GWCC netLibrary collection.
How do I check-out a book and how long do I have access to it?
The loan period for ebooks is 7 days. This loan period may be adjusted in the future as we gain a better understanding of user needs and interests. No one else can use an ebook while you are using it. The ebook will automatically disappear from your account and will be made available to other interested users, once the loan period expires. No trips to the library! No overdue notices! The book is automatically returned. You can check out the book again to extend the loan. You can also check-in the book before the due date by simply selecting that option. Simply click on Check out and read online from an ebook summary screen. You may also browse a book, without having to login or check-out the title, for a period of 15-minutes, by selecting the option to Browse this eBook online. Public domain titles display only the browse option with the capability of browsing indefinitely and unlimited number of users.
Can I print an ebook?
Selected pages can be printed, one at a time, due to copyright protection. Users are prohibited from printing books in their entirety or otherwise redistributing them. If a user attempts to print an entire book, the system displays a copyright infringement notice.
Is there a list of titles available in the GateWay netLibrary Collection?
To access a title list, simply log-in to the Library Catalog, change the location from GateWay to All Locations and then conduct an Author search for netlibrary. Sort the list by title. This online title list allows access to the individual titles in the collection, by clicking on the link: The Maricopa Community College Libraries, then under the Internet link from the Full Title Display screen, by clicking on the link to: netLibrary ebook or Bibliographic record display. This pulls up the ebook summary within NetLibrary where you may browse or check-out the title. The catalog list does not contain netLibrary titles in the public domain, only those titles that GateWay has paid for access. Titles in the netLibrary collection within the catalog are designated with the following symbol on the result list screens:
Are there other ebooks besides those at netLibrary?
Look here for more e-books from other locations in the public domain.