What is an eBook?

• The term e-book is an abbreviation for electronic book. It means a book that is available in full text online.
• Some e-books are old books that are no longer subject to copyright and have been scanned and made available on the web. These old books might be included in a freely accessible database like Google Books, or they might be in a database like Early English Books Online, for which the Library pays a subscription.
• The most useful e-books are usually the recently published books that are still subject to copyright. Some of these are made available free online by the organisations that publish them, but in many cases the Library has to pay so that UQ users can access these books. E-books that the Library pays for are normally accessed through databases such as Safari Tech Books Online, MD Consult or EBook Library.
• The UQ Library's e-books do not require special machines.They can be read on any computer (desktop or laptop). They are designed for research, not for recreational reading.

FAQS about eBooks and e-Textbooks

• eBook FAQS - information about downloading, reading, printing, and different platform information
• e-Textbook FAQS - Library purchasing policy, and other help for academic staff when choosing e-Textbooks