eBooks FAQ
This content covers frequently asked questions about the electronic course manuals, or eBooks, used in Workday training that requires eBooks. eBooks are administered through VitalSource Bookshelf, a third-party vendor. For an overview of eBooks, including tips and tricks, visit Get Started with eBooks.
Have more questions? Ask your Training Coordinator to submit a Training Case.
Check your course description to determine if an eBook is assigned to your self-directed course. If your course comes with an eBook, you'll be able to access it directly from the Workday Community.
Simply navigate to the site menu and select the eBooks link. eBooks are hosted on VitalSource® Bookshelf, a leading provider of digital content. If it's your first time using Bookshelf, follow the prompts to create your account.
Alternatively, you can view your eBook directly from the Bookshelf Online site. You can also view content offline by downloading VitalSource Bookshelf for laptop and mobile devices.
From the Workday Community, navigate to Training and select the eBooks link. Sign into your account using your Workday Learning Center email address, or create an account using your Workday Learning Center associated email address.
If you haven’t accessed VitalSource through the Workday Community, you'll receive an email access your Bookshelf account. If it's your first time using Bookshelf, follow the prompts to create your account.
If you have a Bookshelf account, navigate to the site menu from the Workday Community home page and select the eBooks tile to access your Library.
If you have an existing account that isn’t associated with Workday, ask your Training Coordinator to submit a case to link your Bookshelf accounts.
You’ll receive your eBook before the start of class via email.
If the class hasn't started, your Training Coordinator needs to submit a case using general inquiry or a services training case. If the class has started, inform your instructor that your link is invalid.
The activation link is valid for one-time use to access your guide.
If you don't remember your password, reset it. If you don't remember the email address that you used with VitalSource, contact support for help.
Yes. To print pages from your eBook:
1. Look for the print icon in the lower right corner of your book. If you don't see the icons, select
2. Click Print:
3. The print dialogue box advises you on the print limit for your title. Select your page range and then select Print.
Printing works best as a supplement to your eBook, enabling you to make study guides or additions to assignments that you need for classes. If you see a broken link icon in your print job, or the printing pages don’t display any information, the page material can't be fetched.
To troubleshoot:
- Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
- Make sure that JavaScript is activated.
- Make sure you're running the latest version for both browser and operating system.
- Temporarily deactivate Firewall and your VPN.
- Check, update, and if needed, reinstall the printer driver of your operating system.
Note: We support all major browsers except Internet Explorer. For the best browsing experience with VitalSource, we recommend using Chrome.
Yes. Access your eBook from the Workday Community by navigating to the site menu and selecting the eBooks link.
First, check your spam folder.
If the class hasn't yet started, your Training Coordinator needs to submit a case using general inquiry or a services training case.
If the class has started, let your instructor know that you didn't receive the activation email.
If you recently opened the Bookshelf app for laptop and mobile devices and all your books are now missing and replaced with the title, "Where are my Books?", upgrade to the latest version of the VitalSource Bookshelf app.
No. The eBook is only for the personal use of the individual enrolled in the Workday training. Due to copyright infringement, you can't reproduce or transmit any part of the book without Workday’s permission.
eBooks issued after January 1, 2020 can be accessed on VitalSource perpetually. Learners can directly access their eBook on VitalSource for up to 5 years, with the ability to view the eBook by downloading the VitalSource Bookshelf-app for offline viewing indefinitely.
No, students receive one copy of course materials, regardless of delivery format, as part of their enrollment fee.
We strongly recommend using 2 monitors, or a monitor and a mobile device, for the best student experience.
Don't have another device? Split your screen. By splitting your screen, you can view both resources at the same time. Screen splitting shortcuts vary by device:
- For Mac:
- Hold down the full-screen button in the upper-left corner of a window.
- As you hold the button, the window shrinks and you can drag it to the left or right side of the screen.
- Release the button, then click another window to begin using both windows side by side.
- For Windows:
- Open the eBook and your training environment on 2 separate windows.
- Hold down the windows button on your keyboard.
- Select your left arrow key to move your current window to the left half of your screen. By default, your other open window fills the right half of your screen allowing you to see both screens side by side.
No, individuals are not able to purchase a physical nor digital copy of a course ebook.
You can view your eBook through the browser-based Bookshelf Online on up to 2 devices. Using the Bookshelf application, you can register up to 2 desktops devices and up to 2 mobile devices.
If you reach the device limit, follow these instructions.
Depending on how you’re accessing your library (online or in the application), there are several ways to navigate. Click the screenshot below to access the VitalSource Bookshelf® Video Tutorials. Based on the device you're using, expand the section and then select the relevant video to learn how to perform this task.
From the expanded scrubber bar menu along the bottom of your screen, select
For mobile devices, you can pinch the screen to zoom.
Yes. Your notes and highlights sync across all your devices. You need to have the same ISBN in each account to view shared highlights. Select the screenshot below to access the VitalSource Bookshelf® Video Tutorials. Based on the device you’re using, expand the section, then select the appropriate video to learn how to perform this task.
Yes. VitalSource is building out Labs, which includes more features. Labs are currently only available when using Bookshelf® Online. For more info regarding features on a mobile device, navigate to VitalSource Support and select the Products menu. Select the product that applies to your device, then scroll to the bottom of the page.
Currently, the features available in Bookshelf® Online Labs include:
Read Aloud
Launch Read Aloud to use your browser's text to speech capabilities and listen to your content.
Investopedia
Bookshelf is integrated with Investopedia. Enable this to have financial terms defined when you highlight them.
Define
Enable this to give you a definition of any term.
Scratchpad
Enable this to take notes while reading. These notes won’t be saved across devices.
Instant Highlights
Enable this to click and drag to highlight text.
Night Display
Enable this to make reading in low light easier.
Flashcards
Flashcards are a study tool that enables you to retain information through a simulated quiz-like environment.
This section applies to self-directed Learn Independent courses that offer an eBook
Once you’ve launched and marked complete the Start Course: Launch Training Tenant & Course Manual eBook section of your course curriculum, you receive an email with info on how to access your course manual online or by downloading the VitalSource application.
If you don’t receive the email within 2-hours of marking the section complete, contact the support email included in your course for assistance.
When a learner is deactivated from the Workday Learning Center, the Workday Learning Center and VitalSource eBooks links are removed from the Workday Community. Training Coordinators can manage learner accounts from the Workday Community by navigating to Manage > Training > User Management.
If you’re trying to access your eBook from a past course but no longer have access toVitalSource eBooks on the Workday Community, you can access it from your browser.