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E-books

Learn about e-books at JMU Libraries!

E-book Quick Tips

  • JMU Libraries has access to over 300,000 e-books.
  • Most JMU e-books can be read by multiple users at the same time.
  • If an e-book can only be used by one person/three people at a time, a restriction note: "Access to this e-book is limited to one user/three users at a time" will be displayed on the book detail page in JMU Libraries catalog.
  • E-books are not renewed through JMU Libraries Catalog. Downloaded e-books expire after their checkout period - usually 14 days - after which they may be checked out again.
  • You must be authenticated as a JMU user to access JMU Libraries' e-books - see how to connect from off campus.

User Limits

  • All e-books in subscription (leased) packages have unlimited access.

Access levels vary for titles purchased by JMU Libraries.  There are primarily three levels of access:  i) unlimited-user, ii) three-user, and iii) single-user access. If restrictions apply, an "Access restrictions" note can be found on the book detail page in the JMU Libraries Catalog as shown here: "Access to this e-book is limited to one user at a time", or "Access to this e-book is limited to three users at a time".

  • For ProQuest Ebook Central e-books, the access limit can also be identified under Availability, found below the book title in "view page" on the ProQuest Ebook Central platform.  Below are some examples: 
    • Single-user access model title "Your institution has access to 1 copy of this book".
    • 3-user access model title "Your institution has access to 3 copies of this book".
    • Unlimited-user access model title "Your institution has unlimited access to this book".
  EBSCOhost E-Books Purchased ProQuest Ebook Central E-Books Purchased ProQuest Ebook Central E-Books Leased
online reading download online reading download online reading download
single-user up to 1 day unavailable up to 1 day unavailable **(if multiple copies are owned, online reader access is preserved for one user, download is available up to the numbers of copies owned when permitted by the pubishers) N/A N/A
three-user up to 3 users simultaneously at a time unavailable up to 3 users simultaneously at a time chapter download up to 3 users simultaneously is available when permitted by the a publishers N/A N/A
unlimited-user unlimited users simultaneously at a time up to 21 days unlimited users simultaneously at a time up to 21 days unlimited users simultaneously at a time 1, 7, 14, or 21 days
concurrent-user (limited number of users in a year, refresh yearly) up to 7 days up to 7 days up to 7 days up to 7 days N/A N/A
*All e-books on other platforms are unlimited-users unless specified on a given book.
**See example for multiple copies of one single-user title (5 copies owned) below. 1 copy is reserved for online reading, and other copies allow download for 24 hours.
***Permission to download/print/save/copy is set by the publishers, not the platform (i.e. EBSCOhost E-books or Proquest Ebook Central.)