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Tips on Using the Ebrary iPad App Part 2

Once you have the Ebrary app installed on your iPad, you will have access to tens of thousands of academic books. However, the app can be quirky at times and knowing these quirks can save you loads of time. Here are a few more useful tricks to deal with them (see part 1).

Downloading books to your Ebrary app

The Ebrary app will allow you to download some books, which is great for traveling without an Internet connection. However, you cannot check out all books and there is an expiration date for each check out. Luckily, the app does let you know when the expiration is approaching.

To download a book, open it, and press Download. Depending on the size of the book, it can take a while. If the book is large, it will prompt you to approve the download.

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Unfortunately, there is no easy method to figure out if you can download a book other than trying to download it. If you can, then the download will begin.

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If you cannot, then Ebrary will let you know.

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Re-downloading books to Ebrary app

When a checked out book expires, you will need to delete it. Go to your downloads page.

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Swipe the book and click Delete.

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Click Delete again.

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Then follow the download process above.

Some other random quirks with the Ebrary app

An app that gives you access to thousands of books in the palm of your hands cannot be perfect, can it? The biggest caveat is there is no highlighting capability. Even if you make highlights in the Ebrary website, they will not appear in the Ebrary iPad app.

A minor quirk is when downloading multiple books, the app will require that you wait 60 seconds between downloads.

Finally, when you first open the app, it will open to the downloads page, which features a search box. This will only search your downloaded books. The search also takes some time, especially if you have many books downloaded. Worse, there is no clear indication that it is only searching your downloaded books. Be conscious of this and be sure to click the search tab at the bottom to search the online library.

That covers it. If you have some tips and tricks using the Ebrary app, let us know.

By Scott Manning
Online Learning Tips, Student Contributor

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