ABC-CLIO Home  |  Schools  |  Public Libraries  |  International  |  About ABC-CLIO   
 
 
eBooks: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  1. How many users can access an eBook at one time?
     
  2. How can I preview an eBook?
     
  3. How do I get started?
     
  4. How are eBooks served from ABC-CLIO to my institution?
     
  5. How will the user access the eBooks I have purchased?
     
  6. Can my institution’s eBooks be made available for interlibrary loan?
     
  7. Am I allowed to use the eBook cover image on our web site?
     
  8. Will eBooks be updated?
     
  9. Does an eBook reproduce all of the illustrations and charts in the print title?
     
  10. Can I access eBook usage statistics?

    11.  
  11. License
*Click on underlined terms for glossary definitions at the end of the FAQs

1)  How many users can access an eBook at one time?

We offer unlimited, simultaneous access to your authorized users for every eBook you purchase.

2)  How can I preview an eBook?

For a 30-day preview, simply go to www.abc-clio.com/orderforms/ebook_preview.aspx, and complete the form. A special username and password is sent to you by email immediately following your submission of the form.

3)  How do I get started?
  1. Once you have selected your eBook titles from the eBook order page you will be prompted to complete and sign a License Agreement , to provide authentication information , and submit a Contact Form .

    2.  
  2. As soon as you receive your order confirmation email with your administrator username and password from ABC-CLIO (normally within 24 hours), you will be able to access your eBooks and download the MARC records for your eBooks.

    Note: Some eBooks that are available now for purchase are pending publication and will become available as published. With your username and password, you can track your eBooks’ publication status at: http://ebooks.abc-clio.com.


4)  How are eBooks served from ABC-CLIO to my institution?

Access is provided through your institution’s IP address or a referring URL . We will email you an assigned administrator username and password with your order confirmation. The username and password will be used for downloading the MARC records for your eBooks, accessing your eBooks, and viewing your usage statistics.

See Pricing and Hosting for detailed information on hosting options.

5)  How will the user access the eBooks I have purchased?

Your library patrons can access eBooks automatically with IP authentication if they are within the IP ranges you have provided. If outside of your institution’s network, access is most likely through your institution’s proxy server or referring URL, which identifies and admits authorized users. With prior arrangement, your patrons may use an assigned username and password. All methods of access require one of the following authentication methods: IP, login with username and password, or referral URL.

a) The most common way to access eBooks is through your institution’s electronic card catalog system. A user may open an eBook from a link in your card catalog system. Our free MARC records include this link.

b) Another way to provide access to your eBooks is to place the following link on your institution’s web page: http://ebooks.abc-clio.com. The user will immediately see a list of the available eBooks you have purchased. If the user is not within the IP ranges you have provided, the user will be prompted for a username and password. If you have a protected area on your website, the student/patron username and password prompt can be avoided by using a referral URL.

c) A third way to access your eBooks is to have a professor, librarian, or bibliographic instructor copy the URL for the site or a given title (including page number if desired) into a website or document for direct linking.

6)  Can my institution’s eBooks be made available for interlibrary loan?
No. In order to keep our eBooks affordable, our pricing is based on individual, rather than shared, institutional ownership.

7)  Am I allowed to use the eBook cover image on our web site?
Yes. This is a great way to promote usage of the eBooks you purchase.

Once you have access to your eBooks right click on the cover image and save as a jpeg file. For a larger cover image click on the cover image and a large version will pop up. Right click on this image and save as a jpeg file.

If you need a special size contact us at service@abc-clio.com and we’ll send a file to you.

8)  Will eBooks be updated?
No. Our eBooks mirror the written content of our print titles. If a 2nd edition of a title is published in print, the new eBook edition will be published simultaneously, but the original eBook version will not be updated.

9)  Does an eBook reproduce all of the illustrations and charts in the print title?
Yes. Books published after Jan. 1, 2001, have the same illustrations as the print title, with very few exceptions. Books published prior to 2001 may have illustrations, but many do not due to rights issues. If you are interested in learning more about a particular title, contact us at service@abc-clio.com.

10)  Can I access eBook usage statistics?
Yes. As part of our planned enhancements, a self-service web site will be available in early 2003. Your institution’s administrator will be able to access this data at any time once the site is completed.

11)  License
The primary restriction in the license, which applies to all eBook buyers, is that only “Authorized Users” from the individual institution may access the titles. However, as many as want to may do so simultaneously from inside or outside the institution.

From the license agreement, the definition of an Authorized User is:

    ‘Authorized Users’ means those users that the Licensee identifies as part of the clientele it serves. For Academic Libraries and Schools, Authorized Users include that institution’s administration, faculty, staff, students, and any persons who have access to the institution’s network from within the institution’s buildings. For Public Libraries, Authorized Users include that institution’s staff, residents of the locality that funds the library, and any persons who have access to the institution’s network from within the institution’s building(s).


Glossary:

Administrator username and password = This will be assigned and emailed to you as your eBook order confirmation.

Authentication information = The authentication information is your institution’s IP address (see below).

Contact Form = You will need to complete a Contact Form only once. ABC-CLIO will keep this data on file until you notify us of any changes.

This form can be found at http://www.abc-clio.com/ebooks/ or by contacting customer service at 800-368-6868 or emailing service@abc-clio.com.

IP address = Your institution’s unique numerical Internet Protocol address, such as: http://315.233.1245.12

OEB = Open eBook. This is an HTML-based file format tailored for eBooks.

License Agreement = The License Agreement is a one- time agreement covering all eBook purchases by the customer.

This form can be found at http://www.abc-clio.com/ebooks/ or by contacting customer service at 800-368-6868 or emailing service@abc-clio.com .

MARC records = MARC is the acronym for MAchine-Readable Cataloging. It provides the mechanism by which computers exchange, use and interpret bibliographic information and its data elements make up the foundation of most library catalogs used today. Learn more at http://www.loc.gov/marc/.

Referring URL = A specific address within your website’s domain, such as: www.loetechu.edu/library/home.html

XML = Extensible Mark-up Language.. This is a relatively new open-architecture file format that is ideal for exchanging and re-purposing information.
 




To Order eBooks select "Titles & Collections" from the navigation bar.