Download eBooks

The RBC Library has over 70,000 ebooks in our collection! The vast majority (over 60,000) are available through the EBSCO eBook Collection, which covers all subject areas. We also have several collections provided through VIVA that focus solely on STEM areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). These include Springer eBooks, Elsevier eBooks, EBL eBooks, and Ebrary eBooks.

It is important to understand that, depending on the collection, there may be restrictions on downloading the ebooks. Springer and Elsevier both allow you to download the ebooks as DRM-free PDFs that you can read on any device. (Elsevier only allows a chapter at a time). EBL, Ebrary, and EBSCO all use Adobe DRM to protect their ebooks and will only let you keep the book for a set period of time, usually 1-14 days. You will need to download an app (such as Bluefire Reader) or install Adobe Digital Editions to read ebooks offline. These ebooks cannot be read on a regular Kindle.

EBSCO eBook Collection

To access these ebooks, simply search the catalog, click on the title of an ebook, and then click the “RBC Users” link at the bottom of the page. Login, if you’re off-campus. If you wish to download an EBSCO ebook to your computer or portable device to read offline, follow these instructions:

Questions? Try reading through our EBSCO eBook FAQs. If you can’t find the answer to your question, feel free to contact the RBC Library at (804) 862-6226 or via email at library@rbc.edu.

Download an EBSCO ebook to a PC or Mac
Download an EBSCO ebook to an iPhone or iPad
Download an EBSCO ebook to an Android device

Download an EBSCO ebook to a PC or Mac

Download Adobe Digital Editions, and create an Adobe Online ID when prompted. (If it doesn’t prompt you, click Help > Authorize your computer).
After accessing the ebook in the EBSCO eBook Collection, click on “Sign In” in the upper right corner.
On the Sign In page, click on Create New Account. This will create your personal EBSCO account that you will use to download/checkout ebooks.
When looking at an ebook in EBSCO, click on the “Download This eBook (Offline)” link and then click on “Checkout & Download” button. (You will be asked how many days, 1-7, for which you want to check out the book).
You should then be prompted to save the book to Adobe Digital Editions.

Download an EBSCO ebook to an iPhone or iPad

Create an Adobe Online ID.
Download the Bluefire Reader app to your iPhone or iPad.
Open the Bluefire Reader app on your iPad/iPhone and authorize it by entering the Adobe Online ID you created in step 1 (you should be prompted to authorize automatically once you open the Bluefire app).
Create an EBSCOhost account by clicking “Sign In” in the top right corner.
From your iPad/iPhone, find an ebook you want to download by searching the EBSCO eBook Collection. You will be prompted to login if you’re off-campus. Note: Click on the full-site version of this database. You cannot read or download the ebooks from the mobile version.
Click on the “Download This eBook (Offline)” link and then click on the “Checkout & Download” button. Sign into your EBSCO account. (You will be asked how many days, 1-7, for which you want to check out the book).
A new screen will pop up with the Bluefire Reader logo. Click on the “Open in Bluefire” button. This will automatically begin downloading the ebook into the Bluefire Reader app.

Download an EBSCO ebook to an Android device

Download Adobe Digital Editions, and create an Adobe Online ID when prompted. (If it doesn’t prompt you, click Help > Authorize your computer).
After accessing the ebook in the EBSCO eBook Collection, click on “Sign In” in the upper right corner.
On the Sign In page, click on Create New Account. This will create your personal EBSCO account that you will use to download/checkout ebooks.
When looking at an ebook in EBSCO, click on the “Download This eBook (Offline)” link and then click on “Checkout & Download” button. (You will be asked how many days, 1-7, for which you want to check out the book).
You should then be prompted to save the book to Adobe Digital Editions.

Free eBooks

Project Gutenberg – This is the grandfather of free ebook websites. They have over 42,000 ebooks available for download.

Google Books – Google has digitized millions of books from large college libraries and publishing companies. While the full-text is available for some books, for others you can only read chapters, view the table of contents, or retrieve basic copyright information.

HathiTrust – All books digitized by Google from college libraries are found here, as well as other unique collections. Many out-of-print and public domain works can be read online, while the full-text of others can be searched.

Internet Archive – The Internet Archive goes far beyond ebooks (although they do have 4 million of those). Dedicated to digitally preserving content published on the Internet, you can view archived video and audio as well. For a fun look at what a website looked like 10-15 years ago, check out their Wayback Machine.

OpenLibrary – All published books available freely in the Internet Archive are provided in this more user-friendly portal. They have over 1 million to either read or electronically borrow.

Free Classics from Amazon – If you have a Kindle, you can download these ebooks freely from Amazon. They also have a Lending Library where Amazon Prime members can freely borrow books that have no due date.

Bookshare – For students with qualifying print disabilities, access the world’s largest online library for free!