Presented at the Public Libraries Victoria Network ICT Special Interest Group seminar on Digital Content on Wednesday 26 March 2014. Outline Anthony's experience in how to create an e-book using either Calibre or Sigil software.

1. Creating your own
eBook
...for beginners

2. Background

3. Why ePub, what is it good for?

4. Self Publishing

5. Two Methods of Production
Calibre
Sigil

6. Calibre VS Sigil
Calibre
Pros
• Import from Word
• Autodetect heading information
• Easier to follow steps
• Save in multiple formats
Cons
• Inserts extra code into final document
• Code is not as clean
Sigil
Pros
●Cleaner code
●Easier to edit on the fly
●More straightforward interface
●Potentially better future compatibility
Cons
●Not for beginners
●Only save in ePub
●Knowledge of basic HTML and CSS is desired
●Chapter by chapter

7. Steps for Calibre
1. Format document in a word processor (eg, MS Word)
2. Save as file type ‘Filtered HTML’
3. In Calibre, choose ‘Add to Calibre’, locate the HTML file
4. Once imported, choose ‘Convert Book’, click OK
5. Add metadata, cover image, TOC etc
The only list in this presentation I promise

8. Steps for Sigil
1. Type into Sigil or paste in as plain text (one chapter at a time)
2. Add styles to chapter headings and check your table of contents list
when done
3. Add metadata, cover image, CSS etc
4. Save ePub file
OK I lied, this is another numbered list...

9. Code Examples
h2 {
font-family: sans-serif;
font-size: 2em;
border-top: 20%;
color: #555;
}
<h2>This is a heading size two</h2>
<p>This is a paragraph. Space will be
placed before and after this block of
text marked by the ‘p’ tags</p>
HTML CSS

10. Cover Design
would you read these books?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-shumate/selfpublishings-worst-cov_b_2457689.html

11. Good cover design
Beginner’s Guide To Book Cover
Design
goo.gl/wta4n2
Chip Kidd talk
goo.gl/bN6FtR
Book cover design tip in 90secs
goo.gl/aqFCgG

12. Libraries and eBooks
Libraries as publishers?
What terms would we
offer?
What staff skill sets are
needed?

13. Links
Calibre
http://calibre-ebook.com/download
Sigil
https://code.google.com/p/sigil/
Thank you