John Stewart Memorial Library

eBook Downloading

About

The John Stewart Memorial Library at Wilson College has several platforms from which to access eBooks. It currently offers access to several thousand eBooks. Some of those eBooks are protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management). This is copyright protection that is used on downloaded eBooks that limits the amount of printing, copying and length of the loan. 

Some eBooks will require Thorium to download and read DRM eBooks on your computer or mobile device. After the checkout time has expired, the file will no longer be on your device.

As part of the PA Academic Library consortium we offer Audio books and eBooks through the Overdrive/Libby app.

EBSCO eBooks can be read online via the eBook reader or offline using Thorium as provided the publisher has allowed it.

For additional information about how ebooks work in EBSCO 

JSTOR has books and journals in the arts, sciences,history, humanities and social sciences. (there is a 3-5 year embargo on articles therefore the most current articles will not be available)

 

 

 

 

PA Academic eBook Consortium

Go to https://pa-academic.overdrive.com/

Click on 'sign in

Choose Wilson College then sign in

User your Wilson College email and password. 

You can connect Wilson library in your Libby App. 

When you click “add a library” it will ask you to search for a library. Search for Wilson college or PA Academic Libby Consortium.

This will result in “PA Academic Libby Consortium” with Wilson College. Choose this. 

Using EBSCO eBooks with Thorium Reader

Thorium Reader Guide

Library Resource Guide

Thorium Reader Guide

Everything you need to know about reading EBSCO eBooks offline

1. What is Thorium Reader?

  • A free app used to read downloaded EBSCO eBooks offline
  • It replaces Adobe Digital Editions for offline reading
  • Online reading in your web browser does not change — Thorium is only needed for full-book offline downloads

Good to know

You do not need Thorium if you read eBooks online in EBSCO or download individual chapters as PDFs.

2. When do I need Thorium Reader?

You need Thorium only if you want to download an entire EBSCO eBook for offline reading.

What you want to doNeed Thorium?
Read an eBook online❌ No
Download a chapter PDF❌ No
Download a full eBook for offline reading✅ Yes

3. Devices & System Requirements

✅Windows, macOS, Linux — desktop & laptop
❌No mobile app yet — iOS & Android still in development
❌Not available for Chromebooks (unless Linux apps are supported)

Mobile users

You can still read full eBooks online in your browser or download PDF chapters.

4. How to Download & Read Offline

1

Open an EBSCO eBook and sign in if prompted

2

Choose Download full eBook

3

Install Thorium Reader (free)

Get Thorium Reader 

4

Copy the passphrase shown in EBSCO

5

Open the downloaded file in Thorium and enter the passphrase (once per device)

Video Tutorial

Reading EBSCO eBooks (2:51) — EBSCO Tutorials ↗

5. What is the Passphrase?

  • The passphrase activates your downloaded eBook in Thorium
  • Use the same passphrase on up to 6 devices for that book
  • You only need to enter it once per device
  • Lost it? You can regenerate a new one from EBSCO