How to Access E-books

The Library's collection of e-books from netLibrary is available to our registered borrowers and onsite users via both the WebCat Excelsior catalog and the Online Databases, Indexes and Reference Sources page. The collection includes 3,772 e-books.

From the Library's Catalog:

To search for e-books in the NYSL collection, log in to the catalog. After logging in to WebCat:

  • Click the EBOOKS button near the top of the screen.
  • Enter your search term and from the drop-down list, select Keyword, Authors, Titles or Subjects and click Search eBooks.
  • Select a book or books and click View.
  • Click on the link: An electronic book available to registered NYSL borrowers and onsite users. The NetLibrary Web site will open in a separate browser window.
Forget your NYSL PIN?

Once at netLibrary, you will be prompted to enter your User Name and Password. Please use your NYSL Borrower's Card Number and PIN. Once you have logged in, you will be able to check out the e-book. (If you have not previously registered at netLibrary, you will first need to create an account. See the "Once at NetLibrary" instructions below.)

From the Library's Gateway to netLibrary:

If you are accessing an e-book via the Online Databases, Indexes and Reference Sources page, follow the directions below:

  1. First time users:

    From the Online Databases, Indexes and Reference Sources page, click on netLibrary.
    Click on the first link, Set up a netLibrary account [FOR FIRST TIME USERS]
    Log in to the Library's Online Databases page by entering your New York State Library borrower's card number and PIN. (If your PIN is not long enough, please add two zeros to the end of your PIN number.) Click Submit Query.

    Once at netLibrary, click on Create Account.
    Use your New York State Library borrower's card number and PIN as your netLibrary username and password.
    Log Out.

    Go on to Step 2 below

  2. Users who have already set up an account at netLibrary:

From the Online Databases, Indexes and Reference Sources page: From the Catalog:
click on netLibrary.
Click on the second link, Use netLibraryexternal link.
 Search for, or return to, an e-book. Click on the link to the e-book following Electronic access: "An electronic book available to registered NYSL borrowers and onsite users."
At NetLibrary, enter your netLibrary username and password when prompted. (You must have previously registered, using your New York State Library borrower's card number and PIN as your netLibrary username and password. If your PIN is not long enough, please add two zeros to the end of your PIN number.)
Last Updated: April 24, 2009