You may access more than 500,000 e-books through the library search tool. Here you will find information on how to read and download them. To download some e-books, you will need specific apps or software and, in some cases, an Adobe user account (Adobe ID).
You will find our e-books in the library search tool. Students and staff can log in using their UMU ID to gain full access to the library’s e-books wherever they are. Visitors without a UMU ID can access most e-books using certain computers in the library.
All of our e-books can be read online on a computer, tablet or mobile phone.
Most e-books have restrictions on how they may be downloaded, copied and printed.
Once you have found an e-book with the library search tool, follow the link to the platform where you may read or download the book. On the platform, you will also find information about how you are allowed to use the book besides reading it.
Apps, software and Adobe ID
To download and read DRM-protected e-books, you need an app or software that supports this type of protection. These apps and software are free to download. Which app or software you need depends on the provider of the e-book you want to download.
Downloading e-books from Ebook Central
To download e-books from Ebook Central, you need to install Ebook Central Reader (available for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android). You will be provided with instructions and a download link when you attempt to download one of their e-books.
Downloading e-books from EBSCOhost
Download and install Thorium Reader (currently available for Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS) or Pocketbook Reader (available for iOS and Android).
Find the e-book in the library search tool and click through to EBSCOhost.
Select to download the full e-book.
Copy the passphrase displayed on the screen.
Open the file in the app or software you downloaded in step 1 and enter the passphrase.
Downloading e-books that require an Adobe ID
Some providers require an Adobe ID to allow you to download and read their e-books.
You will also need an app or software that supports Adobe ID authentication. Examples include:
Windows/macOS: Adobe Digital Editions
Iphone/Ipad: Pocketbook Reader or Cantook by Aldiko
Android: Pocketbook Reader or Cantook by Aldiko
Read your e-book using speech synthesis
If you want to use speech synthesis to read your e-books there are several methods to choose from.
Reading on your phone or tablet
Most mobile phones and tablets have a speech synthesis tool. You can activate the function in Settings, or you can search for "text to speech" or "speech synthesis" on your device.
Use speech synthesis via your web browser
All web browsers offer speech synthesis, but this can work in slightly different ways. In some browsers, speech synthesis is already activated and opens automatically when you open a PDF file. In other browsers, you first need to download an extension to your browser.
Download a speech synthesis software to your computer
If you have a UMU ID, you can download speech synthesis software via the University, free of charge. You can find more information on the student web:
Why can't the library buy the book that I need as an e-book?
Not all books are available to buy as e-books, for various reasons. Some books are available to purchase in e-book format for you as an individual, but not for us as a library due to the licences and rules that we need to accommodate. Other e-books we would be able to purchase, but only as a part of large packages of e-books and those packages may be too expensive for the library.
Course literature e-books from Swedish publishers are not available for academic libraries to purchase since the publishers and the libraries have not agreed on a payment model.
What is digital rights management (DRM)?
Some publishers use different kinds of technical limitations known as digital rights management (DRM) so that they may control how a book is shared and used. To download and read DRM-protected e-books offline, you need to install an app or software that can handle DRM and is compatible with the e-book provider. In some cases, you will also need to create an Adobe account (Adobe ID).
E-books available through platforms without DRM can be downloaded and read without using specific software, but you may usually only download one chapter at a time. The downloads may only be used for personal consumption.
What does it mean when a book is “watermarked”?
Sometimes, when you download an e-book or chapter, it is marked with information that makes it possible to identify the person who downloaded it. If the watermarked file is illegally shared, it can be tracked back to you.
In which format should I choose to read my e-book?
Many of our e-books are available in HTML format, meaning you will read the book in your web browser. Often, you may also download chapters from an e-book in PDF format, which is suitable for printing or offline reading.
Some of our e-books are available in EPUB format. EPUB is suitable for reading on a small screen, such as a phone or tablet, since the text adjusts itself according to the size of the screen.
Can I find open access e-books through the library?
You can find e-books that are available open access in the library search tool. These are available to read regardless of your location and without logging in with a UMU ID.
Open access e-books are often marked with a Creative Commons licence, showing what you may do with the material. Some books might be copied, adapted and shared freely. Other books might have limitations, for example that you are not allowed to use the book for commercial purposes. Most often, you will find the licence information on the flip side of the title page of the book.
