1
Download eBooks to Computers & Mobile Devices
A collection of English electronic books on EBSCOhost is now accessible to the Hong Kong Public
Libraries' library card holders from library workstations or any location via the Internet. The
Collection comprises some 4,000 titles of reference books and other general information books on
a wide range of subjects. Users are required to login the Collection by using their HKPL Library Card
number and PIN before they can read the e-Books online.
Now you can enjoy different modes to download the ebooks provided by eBooks on EBSCOhost
to your computers or mobile devices through HKPL website anytime and anywhere.
1. Download Entire eBooks to Computers by Adobe Digital Editions
1.1. Setting up for the first time use
Install Adobe Digital Editions in your computer:
http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/
Use your Adobe account (Adobe ID) to authenticate Adobe Digital Editions. If you don’t have
one yet, create one at the following site:
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/membership/index.cfm?nl=1&nf=1
1.2. How to download
Go to the eBooks on EBSCOhost via HKPL website and sign in to My EBSCOhost. If you don't
have an account yet, create one by clicking “Create a new account”.
2
Find an ebook and click “Download this eBook (Offline)” button in list mode or while viewing
the document.
Follow the prompts and click “Checkout & Download”.
Select “Open with Adobe Digital Editions (default)”, click “OK”.
(If you select “Save File”, the “.acsm” file would be saved in the download folder of your computer
and you can click it to proceed the download manually by Adobe Digital Editions.)
Once the download completed, you can read the entire ebook by Adobe Digital Editions.
You only need to create your My EBSCOhost account and set up Adobe Digital Editions once and
then you can enjoy the download service subsequently.
3
2. Download Entire eBooks to Mobile Devices by Bluefire Reader App
2.1 Setting Up for the first time use
Download and install the Bluefire Reader App from Google Play or App Store. Once installed,
click to open the Bluefire Reader App.
You will be prompted to sign in with Adobe ID for authentication. If you don't have one yet,
create your ID by clicking "create one".
2.2 How to download
Use the browser of your device to login to eBooks on EBSCOhost via HKPL website and sign
in to My EBSCOhost. If you don't have an account yet, create one by clicking “Create a new
account”.
Find an ebook you want to download.
Select “Download (Offline)” and then “Checkout & Download”.
Follow the prompt and select Bluefire Reader to proceed the download.
(If the App doesn’t prompt during the process, you have to click the saved “.acsm” file in the
download folder of your device and select Bluefire Reader to proceed the download
manually.)
Once completed, your downloaded ebook will be available in the Bluefire folder of your
mobile device, ready for offline reading, annotating, etc.
4
3. Rules & Regulations of Downloading
Each user can download up to 8 ebooks at a time.
The loan period is 7 days.
The downloaded ebooks would be returned automatically after the expiry.
You can return the downloaded ebooks early so as to spare the quota to download others.
Early returns are done through Adobe Digital Editions and Bluefire Reader App only.
If the ebook is downloaded by the other, you can place a hold by entering the email address.
When the ebook is available, you will be notified by email and at your My EBSCOhost folder.
Owing to the copyright restriction of publishers, the download (Offline) service of some titles
would not be provided.
4. Support & User Guide
EBSCO Help:
Click “Learn More” on the main page of eBooks on EBSCOhost via HKPL website, or see
http://support.epnet.com//help/?int=ehost&ver=live&lang=en&feature_id=eBooks
Adobe Digital Editions Help:
http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/help/#borrowing_books
Bluefire Reader User Guide:
http://www.bluefirereader.com/bfr-user-guide.html