Ebooks @ MSP

Chapter download?

Yes. When asked, sign in with your MSP Gmail address and password.

Page limits for downloading or printing?

Yes. Every book has different limits – for example, there might be a 55-page limit but the chapter(s) might be over that limit. The page limit for a user resets each day, in case you see the following message:

Full ebook download?

Yes, for some ebooks on this platform. When available, use the Adobe Digital Editions app or another app that supports ADE.

Additional features

Highlight, Add Note, and Add Bookmark – prompt user to sign in (use MSP Gmail).

Profile – contains accessibility features such as Text Only and Enable OpenDyslexic typeface.

Best practices

Reading in your browser is easiest and requires no login! Chapters can be downloaded and printed as long as they are within the daily download limit and you sign in with your MSP Gmail credentials.

Helpful links

Using a mobile device

Chapter download?

Yes, regardless of chapter length.

Full ebook download?

No.

Additional features

Listen option – available for every chapter

Save PDF to Cloud (on chapter page) – provides options for saving to Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive

Ebsco sharing tools – available when signed into your personal Ebsco account.

Best practices

Click PDF Full Text chapter link to read chapters online in your browser OR download to print. Use the download and print buttons that are inside the chapter window.

Chapter download?

Download allowances depend on individual ebook settings.

Page limits for downloading or printing?

Copy and print allowances depend on individual ebook settings.

Full ebook download?

Depends on individual ebook settings. The latest edition of the Adobe Digital Editions app is needed to view a full download.

Additional features

Extensive visual accessibility settings available. Readaloud setting available when reading online, as well as a notetaking feature.

Best practices

Reading in your browser is easiest and requires no login!  Reading on a mobile device requires downloading and using Adobe Digital Editions.

Helpful links

User guide

The Internet Archive, best known as the nonprofit creator of the Wayback Machine, also makes millions of books available in Open Library as an accredited digital library! Simply navigate to openlibrary.org and provide your email to become a borrower. Digitized versions of books are commonly loaned for a 1-hour period, but there are longer-term loans available for some items (as well as wait lists for popular books). Be aware that since the site is open access and crowd sourced, occasional inaccuracies in a book’s description are just part of the experience!

Text to speech (TTS) readers are an indispensable tech tool! Any of these have the ability to read content aloud to you on your mobile device or computer.  While many of these are free or built-in, it's always advisable to review the privacy practices of the app or extension to understand what data are being collected.

Browser Extensions - These are available for browsers such as Chrome and Firefox

Mac TTS - The built-in TTS feature on your Mac may be activated by 

1.  opening System Preferences, click Accessibility, then click Speech

2.  selecting the "Speak selected text when the key is pressed" checkbox

3.  selecting a voice, adjusting the speaking rate, and noting the key combination for initiating this feature

4.  exiting System Preferences, selecting the content to be read, and pressing the key combination

Microsoft Edge - This browser has a built-in TTS feature with controls for voice and speaking rate; it will read webpages and PDFs

Full Service TTS Apps - These can be downloaded as mobile apps, online apps, and browser extensions for a seamless experience across devices; those listed below  have free versions and more favorable privacy practices

Speechify 

Natural Reader 

Note that not all ebooks will read text aloud. Before purchasing a e-textbook, check to see whether the electronic version is TTS or screen-reader supported or enabled! 

Learning Ally is a nonprofit organization that supports students with documented print disabilities by offering access to over 80,000 audiobooks for an annual membership of $135. Some of the required texts for MSP courses can be found in the Learning Ally collection. 

Header image credit: Per Palmkvist Knudsen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Common