What is an eBook?

Many publishers and vendors have defined electronic books differently. Gale defines its product as follows:

An eBook is a book that has been captured electronically for use through a personal computer or a network computer from a library, school or home. Gale Virtual Reference Library is a collection of eBooks that has been purchased by a library or school for their users or students to use.

eBook Collections Can Vary by Library

eBooks are purchased individually by the library, so what you see in one library's collection may differ from what you see in another library. What this means for the user is that search results obtained from a school library may be totally different from those obtained from a public library, even though the same search was performed. It all depends on which books were bought for the collection.

Your library may be identifying which books are in its eBook collection using special "e" stickers . When you see one of these stickers on an actual book, you'll know that title is also available in the Gale Virtual Reference Library. See your librarian for more information.