In this help and Information tutorial, you will see how to get started with and use VitalSource Bookshelf on your Windows computer. VitalSource Bookshelf is an e-book reader for your course e-texbook. Bookshelf provides the ability to read, highlight, and bookmark your e-textbook. Additionally, Bookshelf offers text-to-speech for you e-textbook.
Note: This tutorial is for use of VitalSource Bookshelf installed on Windows computer.
Written Instruction
Step 01: Open Bookshelf
Click the Bookshelf icon which was installed on your desktop during the VitalSource Bookshelf installation process.
Step 02: Sign-in Using Your Existing Account
If you have an existing VitalSource Bookshelf account, enter your Email Address and Password and click Sign-in. Continue to Step 06 after you have signed-in.
If you do not have an existing VitalSource Bookshelf account, continue to Step 03
Step 03: Begin the Registration Process
If you do not have an existing VitalSource Bookshelf account, you will need to create one. Click Register for an account to start the registration process.
Step 04: Comoplete the Registration Page
After clicking Register for an account, you will be navigated to the VitalSource account registration page. This page will open in your internet browser.
You will need to complete the following information to register for a VitalSource account:
A. Enter you first name and last name
B. Enter you email address and confirm it by entering it a second time in the Confirm Email box.
C. Enter a password for your account, then confirm your password. The password must contain:
- at least 8 characters
- an uppercase letter
- a lowercase letter
- a special character
D. Choose a security question from the dropdown list, then type the answer in the Security Answer box
E. Select whether you want to receive updates from VitalSource or not.
F. Read the Term of Use and Privacy Policy by clicking Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Check the box once you are done reading
G. Click Create to create your new account.
Step 05: Sign-in Using Your New Account
Once your new account has been created, return to VitalSource Bookshelf on your computer. Enter your Email Address and Password and then click Sign-in, to sign-in with your new account.
Step 06: Redeem Your E-textbook Code
To access your e-textbook, you will need to redeem that code that was provided to you.
A. Click Account from the menu at the top of Bookshelf
B. Click Redeem Code... to navigate to the code redemption screen.
Step 07: Enter Your E-textbook Redemption Code
To complete the redemption of your e-textbook, you will need to:
A. Enter your Redemption Code exactly as it was provided to you.
B. Click OK to redeem your e-textbook
Step 08: Open Your E-textbook
Once your e-textbook is redeemed, it will download automatically. After the download is complete you will be able to open your e-textbook
A. Click on All Titles to see all e-books in your Bookshelf
B. Double click on the image of your e-textbook to open it
Step 09: Navigate Your E-textbook
You can navigate through your e-textbook in several ways. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the navigation in Bookshelf.
A. Use the search bar, to search for a specific topic or page in the textbook
B. Use the table of contents, to navigate to a specific chapter and page within the e-textbook
C. Use the dropdown list, located above the e-textbook content to select a specific chapter and page
D. Use the navigation arrows, located on either side of the dropdown list, to move forward one page or back on page.
Step 10: Highlight Important Content
It may be useful to highlight a specific line or paragraph in your e-textbook. Highlighting denotes something as important or for further review.
A. Select the Highlighter to use from the Current Highlighter dropdown box. You can choose from: Exam (yellow), important (Green), and needs Clarification (Blue)
B. Select the text you wish to highlight by clicking at the start of the text and dragging to the end
C. Click Make Highlight from the toolbar to highlight the text
Highlighted text will appear as:
Step 11: Make a Note of Key Points
you may also wish to make a note about a specific like or paragraph right in your e-textbook. Similar to placing sticky notes on your physical textbook, you can add notes in Bookshelf as well.
A. Select the Highlighter to use from the Current Highlighter dropdown box. You can choose from: Exam (yellow), important (Green), and needs Clarification (Blue)
B. Select the text you wish to make a note on by clicking at the start of the text and dragging to the end
C. Click Make Note from the toolbar to add note
A sticky note will pop-up, type the note that you wish to make in the space provided and close the note.
Step 12: Review Highlights and Notes
You can review all of your highlights and notes in one easy to access screen. This makes reviewing and exam preparation easier
A. Click on Highlights from the left-hand menu
B. Select your desired highlight or note from the list that open up
Step 13: Zoom and Read Pages
To make the text easier to read, you may with to zoom in on a specific page. You can also use the Hand tool to easily scroll on a page that has been zoomed
A. Click Zoom In from the toolbar. You can also Zoom Out from here
B. Once your page is the size you want, click Hand Tool
C. Use you mouse to click and drag on the page. A closed hand will appear when you are scrolling through a page with your mouse
Step 14: Use to Text-to-Speech
VitalSource Bookshelf comes with text-to-speech abilities. You may wish to use this to have your e-textbook read to you. I recommend using this feature and reading along with it
To begin using text-to-speech, click on Start Reading from the toolbar
Step 15: Pause or Stop Text-to-speech
When you need to pause text-to-speech playback, click Pause Reading from the toolbar and when you are finished reading, click Stop Reading
