eRead Illinois: User Tips

Access and edit your personal settings-

• through the app on a smart phone, tablet, etc.:
  • Click on the account icon:
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  • On the "Manage Account" screen, fill out a display name, enter your Millikin email address, and set up your security question and any other account settings as desired and click "Save":
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• through the website via a browser:
  • First, login. Next, click on the account icon in the upper, right corner of the screen:
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  • Click the "Profile Settings" option:
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  • Fill out your Display Name, add your Millikin email address, set up a security question, and select any other account settings, as desired, and click "Save."
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eRead Illinois organizes content by genres and sub-genres.

If you're not looking for a specific title, but would like to browse by genre or topic:

• In the app,
  • Click on "Browse" in the menu at the bottom of the screen
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  • Click on the filter icon:
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  • In the menu under "Subject," check the box to select the subject/subjects of your choice. Tip: if you are looking for a novel, click "Fiction":
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  • You will then be shown a secondary filter of "Category." To further narrow down the selected subjects by a more specific topic or sub-genre, check the appropriate boxes:
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  • Select any additional filters, as desired, then click "Search."
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• On the website,
  • Click on the three stacked lines in the upper, left corner:
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  • Click "Browse":
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  • Under the "Refine" menu, select a subject or subjects. Tip: if you are looking for a novel, click "Fiction"
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  • Once you have selected a subject, you will have the option to select a more specific category or categories of that subject:
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• As you select subjects and categories, the results that match the selected options will refresh in the center of the screen.

When searching, to find items that are currently available for checkout

• In the app, click on "Advanced Search"
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• Type in your search term (title, author, ISBN, or keyword such as a genre like "urban fiction") and select "Available Now" under the "Availability" section
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• Click "Search"
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• On the website, click on "Advanced Search":
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• In the pop-up box, type in your search term (title, author, ISBN, or keyword such as a genre like "science fiction") and check the box next to "Available Now" under the "Availability" section. Click "Search"
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When browsing, to filter to items that are currently available for checkout

• In the app, look for the "Filter" icon and click on it:
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• Under "Availability," click "Available Now" as a filter option:
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• Click "Search"

• On the website, look for the availability filter drop down in the upper, right corner. Click on the arrow to open the drop down menu and change the selection to "Available Now"
• Click on the three stacked lines in the upper, left corner:
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• Click "Browse":
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• The eRead Illinois options that are currently available to check out will auto-populate in the center of the screen.

There are also options to limit/filter results by format (either eBook or Audio).

You may also find eRead Illinois titles when searching Millikin Library Discovery. These will be identifiable through the linked text in the "View Online" options for the book.

If you click on "eRead Illinois," the eRead Illinois library will open in a new browser tab and go directly to that title, providing options to check out or place the item on hold or on your wishlist.

Patrons may have 5 items checked out at a time.

Browse your search results and/or the feature items, or do a search until you find something you'd like to check out.

• Click "Checkout" (if there is no checkout option, but instead a "Place Hold" option, the item is not currently available for checkout)
• You will see a message telling you the when the item will be due
• The item will now be listed under your checked out items
  • in the app, navigate to checked out items by clicking on "My Shelf" and then scrolling to "Currently Checked Out"
  • on the website, click on the three lines in the upper, left corner, then select "My Shelf" and scroll to "Currently Checked Out"

• Click on the book/audiobook to load it.

Items will automatically return on the due date.

Items cannot be renewed, if you did not finish the item, you can either re-check it out, or place a hold.

Books will automatically return on the due date, however...

if you finish a book early and want to return it before the due date:

• Go to "Checkouts"
• Click on the 3 dots
• Click "Return"
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If you want to access your checked out content while you are not connected to the internet, you may wish to download it instead of stream it.

• In the app: Go to "My Shelf," then click "Checkouts."

• Click on "Download."

• Via your browser: Go to "My Shelf," then scroll down to "Currently Checked Out"  and click on the eBook/audiobook you want to download.

• Click on the book menu by clicking on the 3 lines in the upper left corner (you may need to tap on the book to see the menu option on an ereader or smartphone)

• Click on "Offline Access" to download the title.

To remove something from your Offline Content Library:

• Go to "My Shelf", then scroll down to "Currently Checked Out"  and click on the eBook/audiobook you want to download.

• Click on the book menu by clicking on the 3 lines in the upper left corner (you may need to tap on the book to see the menu option on an ereader or smartphone)

• Click on "Offline Content Library" in the menu.

• Click "Remove"

Patrons may have 5 holds at any given time.

If an item is currently in use, it will not have a "checkout" option, but will have an option to place a hold.

Once you find an item you would like to place on hold, just click "Place Hold."

To see your holds,

• in the app, click on "My Shelf" - "Holds"
• on the website, click on "My Shelf" - "Holds"

In your hold list, you can see how many people are ahead of you on the hold list (your "hold position"), remove the hold, suspend/unsuspend the hold, or move/remove the item to your wishlist.

Once your "hold position" has been reached, you will receive an email asking whether you would like to check out the item. Return to the app or website to check out the item.

If you see a title that intrigues you, but you don't have time to check it out now, you can add it to a wishlist to checkout or place on hold at a later date.

To add something to a wishlist,

• in the app,
  • Click on the item
  • Click the "Wishlist" heart icon next to the "Checkout" or "Place Hold" option
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• on the website,
  • Click on the item
  • Click the "Wishlist" heart icon in the upper, right corner
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To view your wishlist,

• in the app, navigate to "My Shelf" - "Wishlist"
• on the website, navigate to "My Shelf" - "Wishlist"

eRead Illinois has themed programs/reading challenges users can participate in to earn badges.

To join a program,

• Click on the "Programs" icon in the app or website menu

• Click on "Open Programs"

• Click on the program you are interested in.

• Click "Join Program." The program will now appear in your "My Programs" tab. You will be able to track your progress here.

Staley Library at Millikin University is a member of eRead Illinois, but does not select or manage the content of the collection. However, we may make purchase suggestions to the eRead Illinois collection managers.

If you would like to suggest a title be purchased by eRead Illinois, please email with the following information for each suggested item:

• title,
• author,
• ISBN, and
• format (eBook or audiobook)

refdesk@millikin.edu

Other tips will be forthcoming.

Boundless user guides are available at: https://baker-taylor.my.site.com/boundless/s/