I would like to include ebooks from the library in my Canvas course. Is that something I can do?
Answer
In general, linking to ebooks from your university's library is considered fair use of copyrighted material. Providing a link to the material is preferred, rather than embedding the material in Canvas.
For EBSCO ebooks (our main eBook provider), use the link in the browser address bar. (Note: you can delete everything after the question mark if you want to shorten the URL - e.g. https://research.ebsco.com/c/jt3u4x/search/details/izx55pwjlr?limiters=None&q=rulebook%20for%20argument.)
User Licenses
Not all ebooks have a multi-user license (meaning multiple people can access the ebook at the same time). You can determine whether a book has a single or multi-user license by clicking on the title of the book (or "Access options" under the info about the book) from your search results and seeing what is listed under Permissions, like this example. You can also see if downloading or printing individual chapters will be allowed.
If the book has only a single-user license (1 copy available), you can help your students share the book. You can
- Instruct them not to download the whole book, which is the equivalent of checking it out. As long as no one downloads the whole book, it is only unavailable while someone is actively using it. When they close their browser window or tab, or after a time-out period, the book becomes available again. (Downloading individual chapters does not equate to checking out the book.) or
- Contact library staff. We can turn off downloading for that title while your class is using it, or possibly purchase additional copies.
You can find more information for faculty about using EBSCO ebooks here, but some of it might differ from the VSCS libraries' set up.
Of course, if you have any questions about accessing, using, or assigning ebooks or sections of ebooks, or. anything else, you can always contact library staff.
