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Harvard Business Review eBooks: Quick Start Guide: Register

The purpose of this guide is to help VDOT employees find and use Harvard Business Review eBooks, subscription database providing access to nearly 700 eBooks from HBR Press.

Should I Register An Account?

Creating an EBSCO account is fast, free, only needs to be done once, and that account can be used for all EBSCO databases (not just eBooks). You only really need to register an account if you want to check out and "download" an e-book onto a portable device. However, some users create accounts because that also allows you to create "folders" where you can "save" and "organize" different eBooks you are interested in.

Creating an account and "downloading" the eBook to your portable device means that you can walk around with the device and access the eBook even when you don't have an internet connection. 

Here's how to register if you want to: 

1. From any EBSCO database, look for the words "Sign In" on the top banner:

Screen capture showing the location of the "Sign In" option.

2. If you created an account in past your credentials may be remembered (see below). You can click "Forgot your password?" if needed, or select "Create one now" if needed. Please be sure to use your VDOT e-mail address. We recommend using that address as your "user name" too:

Screen capture showing the EBSCO sign in page.

 

3. You'll know you successfully signed in when you see your name in the upper right-hand corner:
 

Screen capture showing the patron's name when they are registered and logged in.

A Few Scenarios:

VDOT employees ARE NOT REQUIRED to register an account in order to find and use EBSCO eBooks in any of ou 3 eBook databases, but it may either be helpful or necessary depending on how you hope to interact with EBSCO eBooks and also on whether you hope to read books on a portable device. Here are a few "Scenarios" to explain:

 

Answer: You don't need an account for this. You'll find links to EBSCO eBooks in the library's Online Catalog and can connect with a single click, or find eBooks through our A-Z Resources links. When you find an interesting book, click the PDF or EPUB option to start reading onscreen. You are allowed to save, print or e-mail 100 pages of a book at a time, or export up to 60 pages to Google drive. You can also share a "permalink" to connect any VDOT employee to the book.

Note: If you want to "take notes" that will stay with the eBook, save the book so you don't have to search for it again, or save the "search" that led you to the book (or exploit features beyond the current session) consider setting up an account. This video tutorial explains how to do that.
Answer: If you start down this path but find it hard on your eyes or otherwise "limiting" to read eBooks this way, we recommend you set up an account. The account will allow you to take notes, place bookmarks, and resume work where you left off...in addition to all the features of printing, e-mailing and sharing with friends. We also recommend installing Adobe Digital Editions software on your computer if you want to "check out" and download copies of eBooks to your computer.  To get Adobe Digital Editions installed, place a VDOT IT Service and Asset Management System (SAMS) request using the steps below:

 

1. Go to: https://sams.cov.virginia.gov/servicedesk.bridgeit#dashboard 

2. Click on "New IT Request" and fill out and submit the online form.

3. The request ill be assigned to the software development group for installation, which you can track.


Note: Getting Adobe Digital Editions is a one-time request. In addition to Adobe Digital Editions you will need to register for a free Adobe ID (also a one-time setup) and link your Adobe ID to your Adobe Digital Editions software.
Answer: Yes. If you want to check out books or move them to a portable device (like an iPad or Kindle) you must have an account. Follow these instructions for this one-time activity. Please be sure to register with your VDOT e-mail address. In order to check out and read an eBook on your desktop or laptop computer you will also need to install Adobe Digital Editions.  See instructions (above) on how to place a SAMS request.  For this and the next option we suggest you opt for the EPUB versus the PDF download. Why?  EPUB an open eBook standard that allows you to resize book text. PDFs are "image" files and they do not have "re-flowable" text, which makes them harder to read on a tablet.

 

Steps:
1. Check out the book for up o 365 days, selecting your preferred format (EPUB if available).
2. Download the eBook to your computer and open it in Adobe Digital Editions.
3. Transfer it to your portable device following these instructions, if you want.

 

Note: Getting Adobe Digital Editions is a one-time request. In addition to Adobe Digital Editions you will need to register for a free Adobe ID and link your Adobe ID to your Adobe Digital Editions software.
Answer: Yes, and yes!  You can bypass your VDOT desktop or laptop altogether by using your personal portable device (as long as it is connected to the Internet) and your VDOT Library Card.  The key benefits of this approach are that it has less steps, there is no limit to the number of eBooks you can download (aside from space constraints on your portable device) and once you have downloaded an eBook you can use it at your leisure (and travel with it since it goes anywhere your device goes) for up to 365 days.  You will still need an Adobe ID and you will still need to install Adobe Digital Editions on your tablet, but you should be able to do these things quickly with no support from VDOT IT.  This Instructional Video demonstrates how to download EBSCO eBooks directly to your mobile device but does not show how the VDOT Library Card works. For that please contact the library directly and let us know what you'd like to do.

 

 

Note: You will need to use your personal device unless VDOT has issued you one.

 

 

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