Recommended databases

About e-books

Students and staff at Chalmers have access to e-books through your Chalmers ID (CID). You can access the library's e-books wherever you are. Everyone else can only access e-books from the public access computers in the library.

Finding e-books

Search for e‑books directly using the main search box on the library’s website.
You can search by author, title, or subject. Then narrow your search using the “e-books” filter under source type. You can refine the results further by publication date, language, and more.

You can also search for e-books through the providers’ own e‑book platforms. Each platform includes a short description of the subject areas and types of content it covers.

Appearance and functionality vary between platforms, but most offer help pages explaining how to structure your search. On some platforms, you can also create a personal user account to save favourites or make your own notes.

If you cannot find the e-book you are looking for, you can submit a purchase suggestion.

Reading and downloading

It is usually simplest to open the book in your web browser and read it online.

Some platforms require a particular PDF-reader if you want to download the e-book to read offline. 

Read online, or download the content in the format that suits you best.

Download or print out a chapter permanently

  • Choose the portion of the e-book you want to download/print out.

  • Click on "Download PDF chapter".

  • A PDF will be created which you can save and read in any PDF reader you choose. You can even print it out.

  • You may download/print out a limited number of pages from a book in this way, usually 15-30% of the book. It is therefore not always possible to download whole chapters.

Download the whole book for a limited time

Most books can be downloaded as a PDF. Many are even available as EPUB, an adaptive format suitable for small screens.

When the time has run out you may download the same e-book again.

We do not recommend making notes or bookmarks in a downloaded book as you cannot save them.

Tips and support

Go to EBook Central - click on the question mark to reach the help section, for example for advice on how to read on a small screen.

VLeBooks has course books in many different subject areas. The easiest way is to use the option read online, but you can also download books.

You can print and copy a limited number of pages.

Download the entire eBook for a limited period of time

Once you have downloaded a book, you have access to the book for one day (in some cases longer). When the time has expired, you can download it again.

Most books can be downloaded as PDF. Many are also available as EPUB, a format that is suitable for small screens because the page adapts to the size of the screen.

We recommend that you do not make bookmarks or notes in a downloaded book, as they cannot be saved.

Download to computer

  • Click Download eBook and follow the instructions on the screen. You need to have the Adobe Digital Editions program.

  • The first time you are required to authorize Adobe Digital Editions at the Help menu. However, you don't need to get an Adobe ID as you can also tick the box in the lower left corner to authorize without ID.

  • Save the file to your computer. It will have the extension .acsm.

  • Open the file with Adobe Digital Editions.

You can also open the downloaded file from within Adobe Digital Editions. Select "Adobe content server message" from the drop-down menu for file types. Then click Add to library in the File menu.

Download to mobile or tablet

Use VLeBook's own app or another program that can handle Adobe eBook DRM. You need an Adobe ID.

More support

VleBook's help pages provide good guidance on how to print, download, and more.

Terms and conditions

E-book providers use different systems, and the rights for printing and downloading vary.

Printing and downloading a “reasonable portion” of an e-book for personal use in non‑commercial study or research is usually permitted, but in some cases you may only print or download a limited number of pages.

Some providers allow entire books to be downloaded for offline reading. However, e-books may never be forwarded to anyone else.

In the list of databases, you will find specific information and terms and conditions for each platform.