Finding and Accessing E-books and Books Online
The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives selects and provides access to a wide variety of e-books to our users. Additionally, the Libraries and Archives also digitizes many of the books found in the collection and makes them available via the Books Online. These e-books and books online are available from several different platforms, vendors, and publishers and are quickly available for you to read without even leaving your desk!
Tips for Accessing E-books and Digitized Books
Each e-book source has a unique interface for viewing and downloading books. Different methods of access and some of the more commonly required software and apps are noted below. While some e-books in our collection are open access or free, most e-books in our collection require a Smithsonian network account. Contact a branch librarian or Contact Us for more information and training.
Access through OneSearch
The most comprehensive search for e-books is via OneSearch. When searching in OneSearch, use the refine options on the left to select Full Text Online under REFINE YOUR SEARCH and Book / eBook under CONTENT TYPE.
Access through the Library Catalog (SIRIS)
Alternatively, many e-books and digitized Smithsonian books can be found in the Library Catalog (SIRIS). After you complete your search use Limit by and select Electronic Resources. Note: not all e-books and digital books can be accessed through SIRIS.
Access through database platforms
You can also access some e-books by searching through a specific database. You can access the entire list of databases available to our users at the A-Z List of e-Journals & Databases and find the database that you would like to search. See below for details about each e-book database.
Downloading or “checking out” e-books to your personal device
If you want to download or “check out” an e-book to your personal device, you may need extra software to access it. Adobe Digital Editions is a Digital Rights Management (DRM) software that tracks the time allowed to view the book and removes access to the book when the time has expired. To download Adobe Digital Editions for your Smithsonian device you will need to contact OCIO to install it.
Available e-book Databases and Collections
Listed below are a few of our current e-book databases and how to access them. Many of these databases have FAQs and help videos on how to use e-books on their specific platform.
ProQuest Ebook Central
- Content: The ProQuest Ebook Central database contains e-books individually selected by SLA librarians to support research and education at the Smithsonian.
- Access: All e-books are viewable online and are available for either full or chapter download. Must be on Smithsonian network or have a Smithsonian network account. Titles can be accessed through searching SIRIS, OneSearch, or through the ProQuest Ebook Central database.
- Additional Database Account Needed: ProQuest Ebook Central account needed for book downloads, note taking, and printing. A ProQuest Ebook Central account and Adobe Digital Editions are needed to check out books.
Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL)
- Content: The Biodiversity Heritage Library is the world’s largest open access digital library for biodiversity literature and archives and offers more than 255,000 digitized books and journals on natural history, including materials from our own libraries.
- Access: Free. Users can view the e-book online and download individual and entire books in several different file types.
Internet Archive & OpenLibrary
- Content: The Internet Archive includes the full text of more than 3 million e-books, including e-books supplied by the Smithsonian Libraries.
- Access: Free. Books are completely free, and can be read online or downloaded. e-books from the Internet Archive can also be “checked out” through their Open Library.
HathiTrust
- Content: HathiTrust is a collaborative of academic and research libraries preserving 17+ million digitized items, in all disciplines.
- Access: Because the Smithsonian is a HathiTrust member, you can log in by selecting Smithsonian Institution and using your SI username and password. More information about the Smithsonian’s membership to the HathiTrust is available on What’s New.
EBSCOhost
- Content: E-books found on the EBSCOhost database are individually selected by SLA librarians to support research and education at the Smithsonian.
- Access: All e-books are viewable online and are available for either full or chapter download. Titles can be accessed through searching SIRIS, OneSearch, or through the e-books on EBSCOhost database.
- Additional Database Account Needed: EBSCOhost account and Adobe Digital Editions needed to check out full text titles for a certain amount of time.
Taylor & Francis
- Content: Taylor and Francis e-books were selected to support veterinary medicine and museum studies.
- Access: All e-books in this group are viewable online and can be fully downloaded. In SIRIS, search Uniform Title Browse (bottom field): “Taylor & Francis eBooks” to find all e-books in this collection. Must be on Smithsonian network or have a Smithsonian network account.
Wiley Online Library
- Content: The Wiley Online Library databasecontains e-books individually selected by SLA librarians to support research and education at the Smithsonian across many disciplines.
- Access: In SIRIS, search Uniform Title Browse (bottom field): “Wiley eBooks” to find all e-booksin this collection. Must be on Smithsonian network or have a Smithsonian network account.
Knowledge Unlatched
- Content: The Knowledge Unlatched collection contains a variety of Open Access titles partly funded through Smithsonian Libraries’ contributions.
- Access: Search “Knowledge Unlatched” as author in SIRIS to find all titles. Entire e-books can be viewed online or downloaded.
If you have questions, please Contact Us.
