At present, many of our ebooks are hosted by EBSCO and ProQuest. You only need a browser to view these ebooks online. You need a special reader to download and use them offline. Many are encrypted to protect the downloaded ebooks from piracy. The encrypted ebooks require Adobe DRM software and an Adobe account to read offline. That software is complex to use and hard to install. That is about to change. You will use new readers to access downloaded ebooks.
EBSCO
Beginning May 19, 2026, EBSCO will change the technology it uses. Readium Licensed Content Protection (LCP) DRM technology will replace Adobe DRM. You will no longer need an Adobe ID account to read DRM protected ebooks.
EBSCO recommends Thorium software to read ebooks downloaded from EBSCO. Thorium is free, open source, vendor neutral software. Thorium opens LCP-protected EPUB and PDF as well as DRM-free content. Thorium Reader is WCAG 2.2 AA compliant and supports text-to-speech, adjustable fonts and layouts, color/background controls, annotations and bookmarks, and more. It provides good support for the blind and visually impaired. Thorium is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. It is not yet available for iOS or Android devices.
You will continue to use your MyEBSCO accounts for personalization and license control. However, to open your first DRM file in Thorium on each device, you will enter a one-time EBSCO passphrase.
ProQuest
Nov 19, 2025, ProQuest will switch to a new ebook reading app. The app will be used only for offline reading; you will still be able to read online with just a browser. You will no longer need to use Abode Digital Resource Management software for ProQuest ebooks. The ProQuest ebook reader app works on both mobile and desktop devices running iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. It supports EPUB and pdf format.
You should find it easy to install the app on your personal devices. “The ProQuest Ebook Central Reader App is now available for free in all major app stores.”
User Guide: https://proquest.libguides.com/ebookcentral/appdownload