Brief, but thorough, overview of ebooks and ereaders, DRM, and helping people find worthwhile ebook resources.

1. The Least You Should Know
About eBooks and eReaders
Formats, Forerunners, DRM,
& Options for Patrons

2. eBooks - Definition
 “eBooks” is a blanket term that can refer to any
book format that is available digitally, including all
the various forms of audio and text.
 These formats range widely and include reading
and listening to books on personal computers and
personal audio devices – even traditional web
pages that have the text of a book fit within the wide
“eBook” category.
 However, most recent patron questions regarding
eBooks center around a very specific type of eBook
that can be read using a personal “eReader.”

3. Overview: Leading eReaders

4. Amazon.com - Kindle
 Kindle was the first
to make eReaders
a “household
name.”
 Kindle eBooks
work only with
Kindle, much like
iTunes and iPod.

5. Sony - Reader
 Sony was the first “big
name” Reader (they had
one out before Kindle).
 While Sony’s Reader has a
proprietary format (like
Kindle), it also allows
owners to use a wider
variety of additional formats
(recently this includes an
agreement with Google
Books).
 Sony’s Reader will not
display Barnes and Noble
books…yet.

6. Barnes and Noble - Nook
 The Nook has an updated
version of the same Adobe
Digital Rights Management
(DRM) software used by Sony,
so it will display the books
designed for the Sony Reader.
Software not related to DRM
for the Nook and the Sony
Reader are designed
differently which could cause
problems.
 Nook allows users to lend
some books to friends.

7. Apple - iPad
 iPads are basically
large iPhones (without
calling capabilities).
 iPads are not
dedicated solely to
eBooks; they use
“Apps” which mimic
eReading devices and
allow users to read
eBooks.

8. Various – Cell Phones
 Smart phones allow “Apps,”
just like the iPad.
 These Apps allow owners
to read eBooks from their
phone using additional
software (also like the
iPad).
 The most common phone
formats are iPhone, Droid,
and Blackberry; each is
unique and programs
written for any of the three
are not useable with the
other two.

9. Popular/Proprietary Formats

10. Most Supported File Types
Supported by all major eReaders and Smart Phones.
.PDF Sometimes protected by digital rights management
(DRM).
Supported by all major eReaders except the Nook
.TXT and all Smart Phones
Supported by iPad, Smart Phones, & some versions
.HTML of Kindle.
Supported by Kindle, iPad, Smart Phones, & some
.MOBI versions of Sony Reader.
.EPUB Supported by Sony Reader, Nook, iPad
& Smart Phones. Some ebooks are protected by
DRM.

11. Proprietary File Types
.AMZ Supported only by Kindle.
.LRF
Supported only by Sony Readers.
.LRX
Proprietary File types use Digital Rights Management
programming, which is discussed in the next section of this
presentation.

12. Other Noteworthy File Types
Often used for Smart Phones and Palm devices.
.PDB Also supported by Nook.
Most eBook readers also support .mp3 audio
.MP3 playback. (Note: .mp3 is NOT an eBook file format.)

13. Digital Rights Management
(DRM)

14. (DRM) Digital Rights Management
 “Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a collection
of systems that attempts to control how content is
used. In its most basic form, think of DRM as a lock
and key. Content that is protected by DRM is put in
to a lock box and only authorized users have the
key to open the box.”
(definition taken from Screen Actor’s Guild Glossary:
http://www.sag.org/content/new-media-glossary)

15. (DRM) Digital Rights Management
So, why don’t .PDF files downloaded from our databases work on
patrons’ Kindles?
 .PDF eBook files available through Overdrive are protected
with DRM. As the definition explained, this means they are
locked.
 Kindle, at least for now, doesn’t have the proper key to unlock
.PDF files protected by DRM.
 Additionally, Amazon.com uses DRM to lock .AMZ eBook files
so that only Kindle can open books purchased from
Amazon.com.
 Just as Amazon.com uses DRM to encourage use of its
Kindle, Apple uses DRM to encourage use of iPods, iPhones,
etc.

16. Support (Third Party) Software

17. Why Make More Complications?
 DRM “locking” of files naturally leads to “3rd Party”
programs which “unlock” eBooks for eReading
devices. Some are illegal in the U.S.
 “3rd Party” refers to the fact that these programs are
neither eBooks nor are they necessarily eReaders,
but are a 3rd type of program intended to bridge the
gap caused by DRM.
 Perhaps a better term for them would be “support
software.”

18. Why Make More Complications?
 Such software comes in a variety of forms and is
updated regularly.
 This causes a great deal of variety and competition
between eReader manufacturers, software
developers, and others.
 Some examples of these programs are the software
that runs Nook and Sony Reader. They both use
an Adobe product to display eBooks on eReaders,
but the Nook has a newer version. Also, the same
Adobe software is used by patrons to read eBooks
downloaded by Overdrive.

19. Adobe Reader Mobile
 This screen shot
gives a great
example of what
Adobe products
do as “support”
OverDrive
software.

20. Mobipocket
 This screen shot
shows the wide
variety of devices
with which
Mobipocket may be
used.

21. iPad & Smart Phone Apps
 iPad and Smart Phone users
can read eBooks from their
devices, but they also need
3rd Party applications to
interpret the eBook formats.
 These programs for phones
and iPads are marketed as
“Apps” and entire stores are
devoted to such programs –
only a small fraction of which
relate to eBooks.

22. iPad & Smart Phone Apps
 Apple Apps and Droid apps
are among the most popular
and well-used phone and
iPad programs for reading
eBooks.
 Some of them are:
 Kindle Apps
 Nook Apps
 Borders Apps
 iBooks App
(click on the above links for
more specific information)

23. iPad & Smart Phone Apps
 Many Apps allow users to
change text size, page size,
and even save their place
across multiple devices.
 For instance, if a user were
reading an eBook on their
iPad at home, then wanted
to continue reading the same
eBook on their smart phone
while waiting for the bus –
the app allows them to pick
up where they left off with
their iPad.

24. File Conversion Software
 As with music and word
processing files, software that
will change eBooks from one
format to another are
becoming more popular.
 Just as with other file types,
using these programs may
compromise the quality of the
file – especially with DRM
protected files.
 At the left are some (certainly
not all) free options for patrons
who may wish to attempt
converting files.
(Pictures at left are links)

25. Free Options for Patrons

26. Project Gutenberg
 Because publishers have not established borrowing
agreements with vendors such as OverDrive and
NetLibrary many popular titles are only available for
purchase through Amazon, iTunes, Barnes &
Noble, or Google Books.
 This may change over time, but for now limitations
on access are due to legal, rather than technical
reasons.
 Since access through library resources is meager,
the following resources are a good start for patrons
seeking eBooks compatible with their eReaders.

27. Project Gutenberg
www.gutenberg.org
 The Gutenberg project
was/is the forerunner for
eBooks, especially those in
the public domain.
 All Gutenberg books are
free, but generally old
because the project only
accepts books that are in
the public domain.
 Gutenberg.org offers
eBooks in multiple formats,
including the most common
(see previous slides) and
some less common.

28. Internet Archive
http://www.archive.org/details/texts
 Internet Archive combines
many online text resources
including children’s eBooks
and some manuscripts.
 Internet archive books are free
and come from a variety of
sources including various
libraries.
 The Archive offers formats in
easy-to-understand language
(Amazon’s proprietary format
is listed as “Kindle,” rather
than .AMZ)

29. Google Books
 Recently (Dec. 6, 2010) Google began to offer eBooks in the
public domain that have been scanned and ditigized by
Google.com or are sold with an agreement from publishers.
 Readers will need to search for books at
www.books.google.com, then, on the next page, click on the
link to the “best” free ebooks Google has to offer.

30. Google Books
 Next, readers will need to
download an eBook file to
their computer (in either .epub
or .pdf format). Readers may
also need to download an app
for their phone or iPad.
 Finally, readers should
download and place the file on
their device. (They may also
save a copy of the book to
their Google “library”)
 Because of file formats and
DRM, these books will work
on all of the popular eReaders
mentioned at the beginning of
this slide except Kindle.

31. Google Books
 Readers may also search for books using Google’s
more comprehensive search for eBooks by
following the other link at www.books.google.com,
finding an appropriate book, then clicking on the
link to download a .PDF version to their computer
and place the file on their device.

32. OverDrive and NetLibrary

33. OverDrive
 OverDrive’s Quickstart
guide gives three
steps to getting started
with eBooks:
 Download and install
free software.
 Activate Software
 Checkout, Download
and Enjoy
Here is a link to the
QuickStart Guide.

34. OverDrive
 OverDrive recently
(Early Dec. 2010)
released new Media
Consoles specific to
various eReader
devices.
Here is a link to their page:
OverDrive Media Console.

35. NetLibrary
 NetLibrary’s process is
similar:
 Download and install
free software.
 Activate Software
 Read
Here is a link to a
PowerPoint presentation
put out by NetLibrary
with instructions for
downloading eBooks for
eReaders.

36. Hidden eBooks

37. Books on CD
 Davis County Library
does have eBooks in the
physical collection.
 Most of them come from
the BCD collection (often
on Tantor products).
 The rest are scattered
mainly through the Adult
Non-Fiction collection in
supplementary discs that
come with printed books.

38. Books on CD
 The instructions to the
left show how to search
for most of these types
of eBooks using the
search term “ebook”.
 An alternative method is
to search for “ebooks”
instead, and not limit the
search to BCD. This
yields two records, one
of which contains a CD
with an eBook version of
the title and 9 other
eBook titles.

39. The Truth About eReaders
 While eReaders and eBooks may seem
daunting, they represent a genuinely unique
opportunity for librarians to help patrons
obtain quality materials, often for free.
 Whether we like it or not, eBooks have
become a big deal in how patrons access
and publishers produce information. They
won’t go away, even if we decide to ignore
them.

40. Links for More Information
 The Handheld Librarian
http://handheldlib.blogspot.com/
 “eBook” entry in Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book