NetLibrary Information Page

This page contains information about NetLibrary, an e-book collection targeted to academic libraries. NetLibrary is available to all members of the Philadelphia University community. Below you will find information about NetLibrary, and how to use the collection. There are links to additional sources of information. Please read the information about NetLibrary and when ready, you may connect to NetLibrary.

What is NetLibrary?

NetLibrary is a collection of electronic books (e-books) that is entirely online, and every word in the entire collection can be searched. The text of individual books can also be searched. There are additional tools that allow you to bookmark specific pages in individual books, and you can add notes to yourself that associate with books or individual pages in those books.

What is the Shared Collection?

A library may have two types of collections. An institutional collection is made up of books purchased specifically for use only by that institution. A shared collection is purchased and used collectively by a group of libraries. Currently Gutman Library has primarily a shared collection, but we also selectively purchase individual e-books.

Previewing and Checking Out E-books

You can preview a book for 15 minutes in order to decide if you want to check out the book or you may find what you need in that amount of time. Books can be previewed for longer than 15 minutes as long as you continually use the book. Once the 15 minute limit is reached, the book will "close" after 7 minutes of inactivity. A book can be checked out for 24 hours. Anyone may preview a book, but only those with NetLibrary accounts can check out a book.

Getting Your NetLibrary Account

To check out E-books you must first create a NetLibrary user account. Once created, you can use your user account to log in from any computer with Internet access. This is important. If you don't have an account, the only way you can access NetLibrary, on or off campus, is my coming in through the campus network. Once you have an account you can simple go to http://www.netlibrary.com on any computer using any ISP and enter your account information.

Information on Creating Accounts, and Searching NetLibrary

For additional information you may view the following instructional documents or contact a Gutman Library Reference Librarian for personal assistance.

1. NetLibrary Instructions - covers how to create an account and the quick, basic and power searches.

2. NetLibrary QuickStart Guide - You can obtain a printable NetLibrary instruction sheet within the help interface (scroll down the help topics  window to "quick guide).