Libraries provide free access to scholarly books, journals, newspapers, encyclopaedias, and other print reference sources.

As gateways to knowledge and culture, libraries play a fundamental role in society. The resources and services they offer create opportunities for learning. Marguerite Nel, Assistant Director at Library Technical Services, chats to Tukkievaria and unpacks the importance of libraries.

Does the library make the full text of books available on its website?

Books are generally published either in printed format or in electronic format (ebooks). Where available, the library gives preference to buying electronic books and/ or textbooks. But, due to the different models followed by publishers, it is not always possible to obtain textbooks in electronic format, in which case the traditional printed textbooks are then bought. Due to their high demand, most printed prescribed textbooks are kept in the study collection and can be borrowed for a period of two hours. All other printed books are on the open shelves and can be borrowed for at least two weeks.

The library keeps a catalogue of all its information resources to enable students and researchers to search for the titles from the library’s website (https:/www.library.up.ac.za/home). Where a title is available in electronic format, the direct link to the content is activated on the record. In the case of printed books, information to locate the book such as location, call number and status, can also be found on the record.

The library also subscribes to a large number of full-text ebook collections, which can also be accessed from our webpage (https://www.library.up.ac.za/az.php?t=17439). Some of these collections are subject-specific; they include AccessEngineering, which has information on engineering and ClinicalKey, which covers health sciences. The collections cover a variety of disciplines and publications such as ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis, and Wiley.

The information specialists at the library also create and update lists of ebooks and other information resources relevant to specific academic departments or disciplines – these are available in the subject guides (https://library.up.ac.za/c.php?g=701601).

Where can one find full-text books online?

Due to digitisation efforts, an impressive number of ebooks are now freely available online. Links to some of these collections can also be found on the library’s webpage (https://www.library.up.ac.za/az.php?t=17439). Examples of free full-text ebook collections are Project Gutenberg, FreeBooks4Doctors, FreeTechBooks, Internet Archive, Google Books, and HathiTrust. A good starting point to discover free full-text online books is the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) (https://www.doabooks.org).

Free online books tend to be old, out of copyright, and in the public domain, but occasionally, you can find recent books in their entirety.

For more information, contact [email protected].