Reading eBooks
Opening and Reading your eBooks.
Step One: Download the book to your computer.
After you pay, you’ll receive a receipt by email that looks like this:
(If you don’t find the email in your inbox, check your junk folder.)
- Click the link in your email to download your book.
- Save the book file to a location on your computer that you can easily find.
- Keep your receipt in case you need to re-download your book in the future.
- You can always go to My Account in the top right corner of the website and click on Downloads, where you can see all your purchases and download anything again.
Step two: Copy the file onto your reading device.
Click on your device below for specific instructions.
Amazon Kindle
There are several ways to add an ePub file to an Amazon Kindle device, or a tablet or smartphone running the Kindle app.
- Send to Kindle App
- Drag and Drop onto Kindle
- Use Calibre Book Manager
- Download and install a small program on your computer called Send to Kindle for PC or Send to Kindle for Mac. Once you have installed this program, you can use it to send a variety of books and documents to your Kindle or Kindle app.
- When the program prompts you, log in to your Kindle account.
- In Windows/File Explorer or the Mac Finder, locate the ebook file you want to send, right-click it (or control-click on a Mac), and select Send to Kindle.
- A dialog box will appear. Edit the title and author fields as needed.
- You will see a list of your devices and apps that support the function. Select the reader(s) you want, and wait a short time for the book to appear on the device. It will be listed with your personal docs.\
You can send to multiple devices at once. You can also check a box to archive the book in your Kindle library (recommended), which will make it readily available in case you get a new device or need to copy it to an app again for any reason. This service is free from Amazon if you use Wi-Fi to connect to your Kindle or app. If you use Whispersync (cellphone service), a small fee may be applied to your Kindle account.
Note: The “Send to Kindle” service is not supported by the Kindle reading apps for PC or Mac, or the Windows Phone reading app. If you plan to read your book in the “Kindle for PC” or “Kindle for Mac” reading software, you must use a different method to sideload the book.
WARNING: The Kindle app for Windows 8 Phone does not support sideloading in any form, and your choices are to use a different format and reading app, or buy the book directly from the Kindle store.
(Note: Does not work on iPads or other iOS devices)
- Connect the device to your computer using its USB cable.
- In Windows/File Explorer, the Mac Finder, etc., locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it from BVC.)
- Browse to your device, which will appear as another disc drive or something similar.
- On many Kindle models, you should browse on the device for a folder called Documents or My Documents.
- On a Kindle Fire tablet, look for Internal Storage and then Books.
- For a Kindle app on another kind of device, such as an Android tablet, the folder may be named Kindle or Kindle Contents. Hint: If you already have books in your Kindle app, look for other ebook files in Kindle format (.mobi, .azw, .prc). If you find .epub files instead, keep looking for a folder with Kindle-format books.
- Drag the book file from your computer and drop it into that folder. (You can also Copy and Paste.)
- Sometimes the book will appear at once in the Kindle or app library list. If it does not, you may need to sort differently or look in a different category in the library, such as On Device or Documents or Docs.
Calibre is a free program that organizes your ebook library and allows you to convert from one format to another, giving you more flexibility with your reading choices. It also can copy books to and from your device (or delete them). When you install Calibre, it will create a library to hold your ebooks.
- Add the book to your Calibre library.
- Connect your reading device to your computer with a USB cable and wait for Calibre to detect the device.
- Select the book in the library listing and click Send to Device on the top menu bar.
- See Calibre’s help files for further information.
iPad, iPhone, or other devices running on Apple's iOS system
You must first install a reading app from the iTunes app store. There are many free choices, including the iBooks, Kindle, and Kobo apps. Whatever your choice, make sure you keep it updated to the latest version for best results.
- Copy from your Computer using iTunes
- Use Cloud Storage and an Internet Connection
- Import the book into your iTunes library, from wherever you saved it on your computer.
- Connect your iDevice to your computer using its USB cable.
- Use the iTunes sync function to copy the book to your iDevice.
- Read the book in iBooks on the iDevice.
- Save your downloaded ebook to a cloud server such as Dropbox or OneDrive, or the Calibre content server*.
*See Calibre’s help files for detailed information on using the content server. - Use Safari to navigate to your book’s folder in the cloud, or in the Calibre library.
- Tap the download link in the cloud storage folder. A page opens in Safari, asking if you would like to open the book in iBooks (for .epub books) or another reader, if you have other apps installed (including the Kindle app for .mobi books).
- Tap the reader of your choice to download the book into the selected app’s library.
Android tablet or phone
You must first install a reading app from Google Play or another app store. There are many free choices, including Nook, Kobo, and third-party apps such as Aldiko and FB Reader.
- Drag & Drop onto your Device
- Use Calibre Book Manager
- Import from Cloud / Calibre Server
- Connect the device to your computer, using its USB cable or your Wi-Fi network.
- In Windows/File Explorer, the Mac Finder, etc., locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it.)
- Locate your device, which will appear as another disc drive or something similar.
- Browse on the device for a folder containing ebook files of the same format as the one you downloaded.
- For .epub apps, it may be called “Ebooks” or “My Documents” or something similar. Hint: If you already have other books in your reading app, look for ebook files in .epub format.)
- For the Kindle app, it may be called “Kindle” or “Kindle Content” or something similar. Hint: If you already have other books in your Kindle app, look for ebook files in Kindle format (.mobi, .azw, .prc).
- Drag the book file from your computer and drop into the folder on your device. (You can also Copy and Paste.)
- In some apps the book will appear at once in the book library. If it does not, you may need to select a command to Open a book file and browse for the book.
Calibre is a free program that organizes your ebook library and allows you to convert from one format to another, giving you more flexibility with your reading choices. It also can copy books to and from your device (or delete them). When you install Calibre, it will create a library to hold your ebooks.
- Add the book to your Calibre library.
- Connect your reading device to your computer with a USB cable and wait for Calibre to detect the device.
- Select the book in the library listing and click Send to Device on the top menu bar.
- See Calibre’s help files for further information.
Some apps, such as Aldiko and FB Reader, offer the ability to connect to folders you’ve previously set up in cloud services such as Dropbox, OneDrive, and Calibre’s content server.
- Save your downloaded ebook to a cloud server such as Dropbox or OneDrive, or the Calibre content server*.
*See Calibre’s help files for detailed information on using the content server. - Use Safari to navigate to your book’s folder in the cloud, or in the Calibre library.
- Tap the download link in the cloud storage folder. A page opens in Safari, asking if you would like to open the book in iBooks (for .epub books) or another reader, if you have other apps installed (including the Kindle app for .mobi books).
- Tap the reader of your choice to download the book into the selected app’s library.
Kobo, Nook, or Sony eReaders and devices
No software installation is required.
- Drag & Drop onto your Device
- Use Calibre Book Manager
- Import from Cloud / Calibre Server
- Connect the device to your computer, using its USB cable or your Wi-Fi network.
- In Windows/File Explorer, the Mac Finder, etc., locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it.)
- Browse to your device, which will appear as another disc drive or something similar.
- Browse on the device for a folder containing other .epub files. (Folder names may vary.)
- Drag the book file from your computer and drop into the folder on your device. (You can also Copy and Paste.)
- On some devices the book will appear at once in the book library. If it does not, you may need to select a command to Open a book file and browse for the book. On a Nook, for example, you may find sideloaded books under My Stuff or My Documents.
Calibre is a free program that organizes your ebook library and allows you to convert from one format to another, giving you more flexibility with your reading choices. It also can copy books to and from your device (or delete them). When you install Calibre, it will create a library to hold your ebooks.
- Add the book to your Calibre library.
- Connect your reading device to your computer with a USB cable and wait for Calibre to detect the device.
- Select the book in the library listing and click Send to Device on the top menu bar.
- See Calibre’s help files for further information.
Some apps, such as Aldiko and FB Reader, offer the ability to connect to folders you’ve previously set up in cloud services such as Dropbox, OneDrive, and Calibre’s content server.
- Save your downloaded ebook to a cloud server such as Dropbox or OneDrive, or the Calibre content server*.
*See Calibre’s help files for detailed information on using the content server. - Use Safari to navigate to your book’s folder in the cloud, or in the Calibre library.
- Tap the download link in the cloud storage folder. A page opens in Safari, asking if you would like to open the book in iBooks (for .epub books) or another reader, if you have other apps installed (including the Kindle app for .mobi books).
- Tap the reader of your choice to download the book into the selected app’s library.
Windows Computer
No software installation is required.
- Nook Reader
- Use Calibre Book Manager
- Adobe Digital Editions
- In the Windows 8 Nook Reader, right-click anywhere in the app and select Open File at the bottom of the screen.
- In earlier versions of Windows, look in My Library and click on My Stuff. Click the Add New Item button and browse for the book file.
Calibre is a free program that organizes your ebook library and allows you to convert from one format to another, giving you more flexibility with your reading choices. It also can copy books to and from your device (or delete them). When you install Calibre, it will create a library to hold your ebooks.
- Add the book to your Calibre library.
- You can also right-click the title to choose View, and then View Specific Format.
- See Calibre’s help files for further information.
Adobe Digital Editions (for .epub books)
- If ADE is your default reader, you can double-click the .epub book file and the book will open.
- If ADE is not your default reader, open ADE first, and then drag and drop the book file onto the open screen.
Mac Computer
You can use the Books App on your Mac to read your book, or you can install a reading program, such as Nook Reader, Adobe Digital Editions, or Calibre.
- Apple Books
- Nook Reader
- Use Calibre Book Manager
- Adobe Digital Editions
- In the Mac Finder, locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it.)
- Double-click on the ePub file, or right click and select "Open with Books.app".
- In the Windows 8 Nook Reader, right-click anywhere in the app and select Open File at the bottom of the screen.
- In earlier versions of Windows, look in My Library and click on My Stuff. Click the Add New Item button and browse for the book file.
Calibre is a free program that organizes your ebook library and allows you to convert from one format to another, giving you more flexibility with your reading choices. It also can copy books to and from your device (or delete them). When you install Calibre, it will create a library to hold your ebooks.
- Add the book to your Calibre library.
- You can also right-click the title to choose View, and then View Specific Format.
- See Calibre’s help files for further information.
Adobe Digital Editions (for .epub books)
- If ADE is your default reader, you can double-click the .epub book file and the book will open.
- If ADE is not your default reader, open ADE first, and then drag and drop the book file onto the open screen.