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Ebooks: Vitalsource

Accessing and using VitalSource eBooks

Finding a VitalSource eBook

If you have the details of the eBook you need:

  • search for the title of the book in Primo Search
  • select the title of the resource from the search results to open the item record. 
  • select VitalSource from the View Online options.

If you're accessing this eBook through your Readings and Resources list from your i2 site:

  • select the View Online option for the item.

Creating your bookshelf account

To take full advantage of the books in this collection you need to create a personal Bookshelf account. You can do this when you first access the collection, or at any time later. If you don’t have a personal bookshelf, and you select to skip this step, you can access the content but can only read online.

To create your Bookshelf account, when prompted:

Opening and borrowing a VitalSource eBook

Once you have your personal Bookshelf and you open an eBook, you are effectively creating a 2-hour digital loan of the book in the online reader.

Within the eBook, you can:

  • jump to a specific chapter using the Table of Contents or specify the exact page you need
  • search for keywords within the book
  • bookmark pages to return to
  • access CoachMe practice questions (on selected titles)
  • use the read aloud feature, and
  • make annotations such as notes and highlights

Recommended use

To make sure you get what you need and enable others to access VitalSource ebooks we recommend you follow these steps:

  • Open/borrow the eBook
  • Print the required pages
  • Return the book by:
    • clicking the back to library (left pointing arrow) in the top left
    • selecting return next to the book cover image

Offline reading

Download/print options

You can download sections of the book, in PDF format, for offline use.

There may be a limit to the number of pages you can download, and for some titles there is a limit to how many pages of the allowance you can print at a time. These limits may differ between titles.

 

To view the print allowances for your book:

  • Open the book from your bookshelf
  • Click the three horizontal dots in the top right to open the menu
  • Select print. This will display the print window showing the the total and remaining print allowance, and any limitations on how many pages you can print at one time.

To download pages:

  • Open the menu
  • Select print
  • In the Print pop-up window enter the start and end page numbers
  • Select print. A print processing message will appear in the top right.
  • When processing is complete select print now. This will create a PDF of your selected pages.

Text to speech | Read aloud options

VitalSource Bookshelf is compatible with the following programs:

  • JAWS
  • NVDA
  • SuperNova and more

Bookshelf online reading includes read aloud functionality. To open read aloud:

  • navigate to the page you want to start reading
  • select the more options menu using the three horizontal dots icon in the top right of the screen
  • select read aloud
  • the read aloud controls will appear at the top of the page. The controls allow you to:
    • skip backwards/forwards
    • play/pause
    • close read aloud
    • open read aloud settings
  • In the read aloud settings you can adjust the reading speed, change the voice and select to read alt text.

Downloaded eBook files can be read using the tools suggested in our Screen reading resources for study guide.

Charles Sturt University acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located, paying respect to Elders, both past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.Acknowledgement of Country

Charles Sturt University is an Australian University, TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018. CRICOS Provider: 00005F.