How to Access and Download E-books at the University of Alabama Libraries (2026)
Watch on YouTubeVideo summary
This video provides a comprehensive guide on accessing and downloading e-books through the University of Alabama Libraries website, which offers hundreds of thousands of titles across various disciplines. When users search in Scout, e-book results appear alongside other resources; clicking on an item's title leads to its record page where viewing options are displayed at the top. Patrons can view these materials directly in their web browser as PDF or EPUB files, but they also have the option to check them out for offline access by downloading them to a computer or mobile device. This checkout process functions similarly to borrowing a physical book from the shelf and grants temporary access that expires after a set period unless renewed early through specific tools.
To download an e-book for full offline reading, users must first create a My EBSCO account using their University of Alabama email address if they do not already have one. Most publishers require digital rights management software to protect content during the borrowing window, and the video specifically recommends installing the free Thorium Reader app on your device. The process involves generating or copying a unique passphrase from the download page in Scout, saving it to your clipboard, and then downloading the checkout license file to your computer. Once installed, you open the Thorium Reader app, import the downloaded license file via the "Import Publications" button, and enter the saved passphrase to unlock the e-book within the application.
The video highlights important distinctions between checking out a full book versus downloading individual chapters. While a checked-out full book prevents other users from accessing it until you return or let the license expire, downloading specific chapters allows for printing without blocking access for others or requiring renewal before expiration. Users are also reminded that some publishers may prompt them to create separate free accounts during the download process and should keep track of all login credentials securely. For those needing more detailed information on different content providers, a dedicated e-books guide is available online at guides.lib.ua.edu/ebooks, with links provided in both the video description and this summary for easy reference.
Read the full video transcript
Hi. This video will demonstrate how to
access and download ebooks through the
UA library website.
We provide access to hundreds of
thousands of ebook titles in every
discipline and subject area.
As you search in Scout, these ebooks
will show up alongside other types of
resources in your results list.
Let's run an example search and pull up
an ebook from the results.
From this item's entry in the results
page, we can see that it's an ebook.
Clicking on the item's title here,
it will take you to the ebook's record
page.
At the top of the page are the options
for viewing the ebook.
You can access ebooks in PDF or EPUB
format in your web browser.
Or you can check them out by downloading
them to your computer or mobile device
for offline access.
You can also access and download
individual chapters by clicking on the
table of contents on the right side of
your screen here.
The download option is the ebook
equivalent of checking out a physical
book.
Choosing this option will allow you to
access the ebook offline for a limited
period of time.
To download an ebook, you will need a My
EBSCO account.
If you don't already have one set up,
you can create an account using your
University of Alabama email address and
password as your credentials.
Most ebook publishers require you to
have a digital rights management
software on your device, such as
Thorium, in order to download and access
the full book offline.
The Thorium Reader app is free to
download and install. The direct link to
the app's website is provided in this
video's description.
Alternatively, the link will be provided
once you begin downloading the ebook's
checkout license from Scout.
Once you have Thorium installed on your
device, you can begin the download
process.
In the download window, copy the
passphrase or click to generate a new
one if needed and save it to your
clipboard. You will need this passphrase
later to open the ebook in the Thorium
app.
Next, click download to save the
checkout license file to your device.
Sometimes, depending on the publisher,
you might also be prompted to create a
separate free user account with the
ebook provider during the download
process.
Be sure to keep track of any login
credentials you create.
Let's go ahead and open the Thorium
Reader app.
In the My Publications window, click on
the Import Publications button here.
Locate the ebook's checkout license file
and open it.
Your ebook should now appear in the app.
To open the ebook, click on the cover
image and when prompted, enter the
passphrase you copied earlier.
While the ebook is checked out to you,
other users will not be able to access
it.
You can return it early via Thorium or
wait until the checkout license expires,
after which the ebook will automatically
be returned to the library.
You can also download and print out
individual chapters without needing to
use Thorium.
Unlike a full download, you don't have
to worry about renewing or returning
them after the borrowing window has
expired.
Also, downloading individual chapters
will not block access for other users.
For more detailed information on how to
download and access e-books from all of
our content providers, visit our e-books
guide at guides.lib.ua.edu/ebooks.
The link is also provided in this
video's description.
Well, that's all for now. If you have
any questions, visit ask.lib.ua.edu to
ask a librarian.
Thanks for watching and roll tide.