FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about 123library. In addition, you might find our training guides useful:

Login and Logout

How do I log in to the 123Library website?

There are several possible ways to login, depending on what type of account you have.

  • If you are from an institution which uses Athens as a Single-Sign-On, you should click on "Athens Login" on the home page.
  • If you are an individual user (i.e., not from an institution), you should enter your username and password from your Welcome Email into the boxes provided on the home page.

2. What do I do if I have forgotten my password?

Click on the 'Forgotten your password?' link in the login box on the website homepage. Follow the instructions to enter your email address and click the 'Submit' button. We'll then send you a reminder email containing your password.

3. How do I log out of the 123Library wesbite?

Click on the 'Log out' link located in the top right corner of the logged in site.

4. How do I log in to the 123Library website using Athens?

If you have an Athens username and password please click on the 'ATHENS LOGIN' link on the 123Library homepage. This will take you to the Athens website. Enter your username and password here and you will receive access to the 123library website.

Please note: Individual users of the 123Library website will not have an Athens username and password. Please use the login details sent to you by 123Library.

5. What is Athens?

Athens is the name of a service used to authenticate and authorise users members of an Institution for access to online services from around the world. Athens is also the name of the department within Eduserv that develops the software and supports the Athens service in the UK. The service is used by the UK education community, the NHS sector and the British Council, as well as many other organisations around the World outside those communities (see the list of Athens organisations).

6. I have an administration login for my institution. Where do I use this?

You will be prompted to log in with your administration username and password if you wish to view your website usage statistics and account details for your institution. This is to ensure the greatest level of security on the 123Library website.

Please note: Individual users of the 123Library website will not have an administration username and password, and do not have access to usage statistics.

7. How do I open an account with 123Library.org?

To open and account as an individual user, just click on "register" and fill the form.

Institutions: if you represent an institution or a library, and want to open and institution account, please contact us.

Free Trial

1. What is a 123Library free trial?

A free trial will provide you with an individual account at 123library and access to three sample eBooks and an eVideo from our catalogue. If you are a librarian or if you represent an institution, you can still register for a free trial and create an individual account, but you will need to contact us to create an institutional account and place orders in the name of your institution.

2. How do I get a 123Library free trial?

Simply click on any of the 'Register' links on the 123Library homepage or use the 'Register - free trial' tab at the top of the website. You will be asked to complete a short form in order to open your free trial 123Library account and we will email you with your username and password straight away. Simply login with these details and you will be able to view your free eBooks and eVideo.

3. I have been impressed by the 123Library website during my free trial and would like to purchase some eBooks/eJournals/eVideos. How can I do this?

After you have logged in, search or browse to the items you would like to purchase. Tick the box next to your chosen item(s) to add them to your current order and click the 'UPDATE ORDER' button. When you are ready to complete your purchase click on the 'Checkout' link at the top of the page and follow the instructions. The products you have purchased will then appear in your lists in the 'My Library' area of the website.

If you are the administrator of a Library or of an institution, you will first need to open an institution account with us to be able to place orders online. To open and Institution account, please contact us.

eBooks

1. What is an eBook?

An eBook is a book in electronic format. The 123Library medical collection contains thousands of leading medical eBooks covering a vast range of medical specialties, particularly for academic studies and medical education. We add hundreds of eBooks in the field of healthcare on a monthly basis to increase the medical content range for our eBook subscribers. Reading 123Library medical eBooks does not require a plug-in so firewalls are simply not a problem. Instead we use our own 123Fastreader which means pages upload quickly on your screen and can be scrolled through with ease.

2. How can I read an eBook?

A list of the eBooks you have purchased (or those you have access to during your free trial) is available in the 'My Library' area of the website. Click on the 'eBooks' link, select an eBook and click 'Read now'. The message 'Read the file with 123FastReader ' will appear. Click on the link and the eBook will open. Use the navigation at the top of the screen to skip to a particular page of the eBook, search for a specifc topic within the eBook or simply scroll down the pages to read. When you have finished reading the eBook click the 'Exit' link to close.

3. How can I find out more information about a particular eBook before buying?

To find out more about a particular eBook click on the title and you will be taken to a 'Book Details' page. Along with publisher, author and ISBN information you will find a summary and table of contents for the eBook. You can even search for keywords within the eBook itself to check it contains the content you are seeking.

4. How can I buy an eBook?

Simply tick the box next to the eBook title(s) you have chosen and click the 'UPDATE ORDER' button. This will add the eBook(s) to your current order. You can view your current order total at the top of each page. When you are ready to complete your purchase click on the 'Checkout' link and follow the instructions. The eBook(s) you have purchased will then appear in your eBook list in the 'My Library' area of the website.

eJournals

1. What is an eJournal?

An eJournal is a journal in electronic format. The Foundation Years Journal is a monthly peer-reviewed publication which seeks to be the pre-eminent journal in the field of patient safety and clinical practice for Foundation Years' doctors and educators. It delivers practical, informative articles tailored to the needs of Foundation Doctors. Each Foundation Years Journal's issue will focus on one or two specialties. Articles are 'case based' and cover the various essential sections to the training of junior doctors. The journal will closely follow the Foundation Years syllabus defined by the MMC curriculum to provide the best educational value for junior doctors. Most good clinical care and acute care articles will be accompanied by assessment questions, giving junior doctors the chance to gauge their learning. Reading 123Library eJournals does not require a plug-in so firewalls are simply not a problem. Instead we use our own 123Fastreader which means pages upload quickly on your screen and can be scrolled through with ease.

2. How can I read an eJournal?

A list of the eJournals you have purchased is available in the 'My Library' area of the website. Click on the 'eJournals' link, select an eJournal and click 'View issues'. Choose the issue you would like to view and click 'Read now'. The message 'Read the file with 123FastReader' will appear. Click on the link and the eJournal will open. Use the navigation at the top of the screen to skip to a particular page of the eJournal, search for a specifc topic within the eJournal or simply scroll down the pages to read. When you have finished reading the eJournal click the 'Exit' link to close.

3. How can I find out more information about a particular eJournal before buying?

To find out more about a particular issue of an eJournal click on the issue title and you will be taken to a 'Journal Issue Details' page. Along with publisher, editor and date of publication you will find a summary and table of contents for the eJournal issue. You can even search for keywords within the eJournal issue itself to check it contains the content you are seeking.

4. How can I buy an eJournal?

There are two subscription options for eJournals. You can choose between unlimited online access for a period of 26 weeks or 52 weeks. Once you have chosen your subscription option click on the 'Subscribe with option 1 | 2' link and the amount will be added to your current order total. When you are ready to complete your purchase click on the 'Checkout' link and follow the instructions. The eJournal you have purchased will then appear in your eJournal list in the 'My Library' area of the website.

eVideos

1. What is an eVideo?

An eVideo is a video on a specific medical topic. The eVideos on the 123Library website cover a range of medical specialities as animations and visual content are essential to a good understanding of a subject.

2. How can I watch an evideo?

A list of the eVideos you have purchased (or the one you have access to during your free trial) is available in the 'My Library' area of the website. Click on the 'eVideos' link, select an eVideo and click 'View now'. The eVideo will load and begin to play. You can choose to 'Play all' or play each chapter individually.

3. How can I find out more information about a particular eVideo before buying?

To find out more about a particular eVideo click on the title and you will be taken to a 'Video Details' page. Along with publisher, date of publication and ISBN information you will find the duration of the eVideo and a concise summary.

4. How can I buy an eVideo?

Simply tick the box next to the eVideo title(s) you have chosen and click the 'UPDATE ORDER' button. This will add the eVideo(s) to your current order. You can view your current order total at the top of each page. When you are ready to complete your purchase click on the 'Checkout' link and follow the instructions. The eVideo(s) you have purchased will then appear in your eVideo list in the 'My Library' area of the website.

Your Account

1. How can I view my 123Library account details?

In the 'My Library' area of the website click on the Account details and transactions link. This will take you to your account details page.

2. Where can I view my current order total?

Your current order total is displayed at the top of every page of the 123Library website.

3. Where can I view all items in my current order?

Click on the 'Checkout' link found at the top of every page on the 123Library website. Here you will find each item in your current order.

4. How do I complete my purchase of items from 123Library?

Click on the 'Checkout' link found at the top of every page on the 123Library website. Each item in your current order will be listed. When you are ready to proceed click on the 'Google Checkout' button and follow the instructions.

5. How can I view my previous transactions on the 123Library website?

In the 'My Library' area of the website click on the Account details and transactions link. At the bottom of the page you will find details of all previous transactions on the 123Library website clearly listed.

Search Help

Search

1. How do I use the search box at the top of the 123Library website to find a product?

Choose the type of product you would like to search for in the first dropdown menu. Next, type in one or more keywords you would like to search for. Select whether you'd like to search within the full 123Library catalogue or just within your own 123Library subscription products. Finally, click 'Go' and your search results will be returned on the page below.

Quick Search Examples

a. I want to find all eBooks on the 123Library website that are about asthma. How do I do this?

Choose 'eBooks' from the dropdown menu. Type in the keyword 'asthma'. Select the option to search the full 123Library catalogue and click 'Go' . A list of eBooks containing the keyword asthma will be returned on the page below.

b. I want to find all eVideos within my own 123Library subsciptions that are about cholesterol. How do I do this?

Choose eVideos from the dropdown menu. Type in the keyword 'cholesterol'. Select the option to search within your subscriptions only and click 'Go'. A list of eVideos you have purchased that contain the keyword 'cholesterol' will be returned on the page below.

2. Is search case sensitive?

No, whether you are searching for 'Hidden Carers' or 'hidden carers' the same results will be returned.

Advanced Search

1. How do I use the advanced search page on the 123Library website to find a specific product?

Click on the 'Advanced search' button in the search box at the top of the website. Choose the type of product you would like to search for in the first dropdown menu. Next, type in the keywords you would like to search for. Select whether you'd like to search within the full 123Library catalogue or just within your own 123Library subscription products. Choose the publisher of the product from the dropdown menu and enter ther author's name if known. Type in the ISBN number of the product or library code. Then select a date range you would like to apply to the search. Finally, click 'Search' and your search results will be returned below.

Advanced Search Examples

a. I need to find an eBook about asthma by the publisher OUP. I have the author's name and ISBN number. How do I find this on the 123Library website?

Click on the 'Advanced search' button in the search box at the top of the website. Choose 'eBook' from the dropdown menu. Type in the keyword 'asthma'. Select the option to search within the full 123Library catalogue. Choose the publisher 'OUP' from the dropdown menu. Enter the author name 'William Berger' and the ISBN number '0195384385'. Leave the library code field and date range dropdown menus blank. Click 'Search' and your search results will be returned below.

b. I need to find an eJournal about opthalmology that was published in February 2008. How do I find this on the 123Library wesbite?

Click on the 'Advanced search' button in the search box at the top of the website. Choose 'eJournal' from the dropdown menu. Type in the keyword 'opthalmology'. Select the option to search within the full 123Library catalogue. Leave the publisher, author, ISBN number and library code fields blank. Enter the date range in question: 01 February 2009 and 28 February 2009. Click 'Search' and your results will be returned below.

Search within an eBook

1. I want to find all references to a specifc topic within one particular eBook/eJournal. How can I do this?

Click on the title of an eBook or eJournal issue to be taken to its details page. Here you will find the 'Search within an eBook/eJournal' function. Enter the keyword you would like to search for and click 'Search'. The search results will be listed below. If you have purchased access to this eBook/eJournal you will be able to click on any of the results and be taken straight to the section of the eBook/eJournal where this keyword appears. If you have not yet purchased access you will be able to view the results but will be unable to click through to the relevant sections.

Search Tips

1. What do I do if my search returns no results?

Check that the keyword(s) you have entered are spelt correctly.

2. What do I do if my search returns too many results?

Try using our Advanced search function. This will allow you to enter more information about the product you are searching for and subsequently will reduce the number of results returned.

Who is 123Library?

123Library is a fast growing and innovative medical eBook and digital content provider for individuals, medical professionals and libraries across the world. We continue to develop strong partnerships with leading medical publishers such as Oxford University Press, Informa Healthcare, Manson, Royal Society of Medicine, Radcliffe, Jessica Kingsley, Hodder Education, Dunedin Academic Press, Clinical Medicine, Sage Publications, Remedica, AM Press, Nottingham University Press... by adding hundreds of eBooks in the field of healthcare on a monthly basis to increase the medical content range for our eBook subscribers.