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Digital Magazines

Many magazines are now available to Emerson users online in the Flipster format.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What platforms is Flipster available on?
    • Flipster titles can be read using a current web browser on desktop computers and mobile devices. A mobile app is also available for Apple, Android, and Kindle Fire devices.
    • For more information, see EBSCO's tutorials (linked below): Flipster for Desktop Computers and Flipster for Mobile Devices.
  • How do I navigate an issue in Flipster?
    • To move through the issue normally, click the left and right buttons at the bottom of the page in the web browser, or swipe left and right in the app.
    • You can also click on article titles on the magazine's cover or table of contents to jump to them directly, or navigate using Flipster's Contents Gallery by clicking the list icon in the toolbar (pictured below).
      • The Flipster toolbar has seven icons: a capital letter T, a printer, two books with a third leaning against them, a bulleted list, an open book, a magnifying glass, and a cogwheel. The forth icon, a bulleted list, is outlined by a red rectangle.
  • How do I access back issues?
    • Flipster automatically opens the latest issue of a magazine, which can make it confusing to access other issues. To view the list of available back issues, first open the current issue, then click the "all issues" button at the top right of the screen. It appears as the spines of two books standing straight up with a third leaning against them (pictured below).
      • The Flipster toolbar has seven icons: a capital letter T, a printer, two books with a third leaning against them, a bulleted list, an open book, a magnifying glass, and a cogwheel. The third icon, two books with a third leaning, is outlined by a red rectangle.
  • Can I download Flipster titles?
    • Yes, depending on limitations set by the publisher.
      • On a desktop computer, click the printer icon on the Flipster toolbar (pictured below) and select "Print all pages." This will generate a PDF that can be printed or saved to your computer. Some publishers may not allow printing/downloading, in which case the button will be grayed out. For example, Rolling Stone cannot be printed or downloaded, while The New York Review of Books is available as a full PDF download.
        • The Flipster toolbar has seven icons: a capital letter T, a printer, two books with a third leaning against them, a bulleted list, an open book, a magnifying glass, and a cogwheel. The second icon, a stylized printer, is outlined by a red rectangle.
      • On the mobile app, each issue has to be downloaded before it can be read. Current issues are highlighted and have a large blue "Download" button, while back issues have a smaller icon of an arrow pointing down into a square. Once downloaded, issues will appear in "My Shelf" with a label indicating the expiration date, if applicable. For example, Rolling Stone can be downloaded for 1 week, while The New York Review of Books has no expiration date.
  • Who has access to Flipster titles through Emerson?
    • Anyone with an active Emerson ID and password should be able to log in to the proxy and access Flipster.
  • Are there limitations on how many people can use a Flipster title?
    • Most Flipster titles are available for unlimited users. A few do have publisher-applied limits on the number of simultaneous users, but these are typically high enough that they shouldn't impact Emerson usage. For example, Rolling Stone allows 500 simultaneous users, while The New York Review of Books allows unlimited users.
  • Does this mean Emerson doesn't collect print magazines anymore?
    • We still subscribe to many periodicals, as well as keeping substantial collections of back issues! However, the library has transitioned some print subscriptions to online-only, meaning Flipster is the only place to find the latest issues of those titles. In those cases, the Flipster edition can also be accessed from a link in the catalog record for the print edition (for example, see The Threepenny Review). 
  • What accessibility options are available in Flipster?
    • EBSCO highlighted their efforts to improve Flipster accessibility in August 2022. Here is some of what they mentioned:
      • "A newly improved and fully accessible desktop reader which offers 
        • The ability for users to navigate using a keyboard 
        • Improved compatibility with screen readers
        • Streamlined navigation with the removal of "flyout" navigation
      • Mobile-responsive design 
        • A text-only view that mimics similar functionality in the mobile apps" 
    • More details are available by clicking the "Help" button (upper right corner) from the Flipster Homepage.
  • My question isn't answered here.

Flipster for Desktop Computers

EBSCO Tutorial: Flipster for Desktop Computers (updated 2/13/2023)

Flipster for Mobile Devices

The Flipster app is available for iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire devices. Flipster can also be accessed in the web browser on mobile devices without downloading the app.

Flipster App for Mobile Devices

When setting up Flipster on your device, decline the option to search by location. Instead, search for Emerson College and select the option for "Emerson College Library," then log in using your Emerson ID and password. The following tutorials go into more detail for each platform.

EBSCO Tutorial: Flipster app for iPad and iPhone (updated 2/22/2017)

EBSCO Tutorial: Flipster App for Android Devices and Kindle Fire Tablets (updated 4/17/2017)

Flipster in the Web Browser for Mobile Devices

 If you choose not to download the Flipster app for your mobile device, you can still access magazines through Flipster in your web browser, the same way you would on a desktop computer.

EBSCO Tutorial: Flipster in the Web Browser for Mobile Devices (updated 2/14/2023)