1. What is an eBook?
2. Are all eBooks created equal?
3. What special features are available with your PDF eBooks?
4. What is the World eBook Library Consortia?
5. How does the World eBook Library work?
6. What titles are available?
7. What new features are going be offered?
8. What value do World eBook Library's eBooks add to my library?
9. What makes the World eBook Library unique?
10. Why does the World eBook Library use the PDF format?
11. What special features are available?
12. How can eBooks support our distance-learning efforts?
13. What kind of library tracking is available?
14. How will our patrons be able to find your eBooks?
15. How does the World eBook Library get its materials?
16. How can my library become a member?
17. Is your rate card publicly available?
18. What guarantee do I have that I can get what I want when I want?
19. What are our minimum system requirements?
    

What is an eBook?
An eBook, short for electronic book, is any type of book that has been made into an electronic edition and distributed in a digital format. Our collection of full-length eBooks includes thousands of classic works of literature, serials, bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference works.

Are all eBooks created equal?
No, they certainly are not. eBooks come in numerous formats with many different presentations, features, and accessibility. Many eBook formats permit only single or partial page viewing and do not allow you to change viewing presentation or font sizes. Such formats also typically fail to capture the rich texture, and visual quality of a printed book. Furthermore, many formats also require the reader to purchase costly software or hardware for proper viewing.

To address these common format limitations, the World Public Library uses the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) to ensure that each eBook meets our high quality standards while retaining a comparable look and feel to a printed book. Additional advantages of HTML eBook technology include its compact file
size, ease of downloading, and ability to be read while disconnected from
the Internet. Unlike other formats the PDF works on all major computing platforms using the widely distributed free Adobe Reader 6.0 software. Adobe reader's prevalence and familiarly of use also increases readership and eliminates confusion associated with specialized eBook reading software.

What special features are available with your PDF eBooks?
By having PDF eBooks we are able to offer unique features such as digital dictionary, digital highlighter, multimedia inputs, digital notepad, full text search capability and a special text to speech feature that enables you to use the computer to read out loud any selected text. These features combined with our powerful Full Text search engine cataloging system makes our eBooks an unmatched value that allows your patrons to find what they want, when they want it, in a matter of seconds instead of hours.

What is the World eBook Library Consortia?
The World eBook Library Consortia is an international consortia of libraries that share their collections in a single catalog. From the combined works of these consortia we have created one of the world's most complete collections of eBooks and eDocuments serving the public, students, libraries and educators since 1996.

How does the World eBook Library work?
It works two ways, first we offer free access to a world-class collection of literature and second for our members we offer the world's largest PDF eBook and eDocument collections (500,000+ titles). Each eBook and eDocument has been digitally re-mastered, optimized for the virtual library users. As a member only your library patrons will be able to gain complete access to review, read and even download for personal use, any material in the World eBook Library's vast collection.

What titles are available?
We offer a multi-language collection of over 500,000+ full-text eBooks of classic works of literature, serials, bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference works in over 100 languages. Our collection of high quality PDF eBooks and MP3 audio books are the perfect resource to support and strengthen research education and learning for any individual, library, school, business, or institution.

What new features are going be offered?
As a technological leader in Internet library services we will continue to improve our content and features to best serve our members. In keeping with this mission we project our expanding collection to reach over 500,000+ full-length eBooks by fall of 2004. Other anticipated improvements include more: copyrighted materials, foreign language materials, music, video, museum collection, photography, image gallery and an enhanced selection of digital format choices.

What value do World eBook Library's eBooks add to my library?
World eBook Library eBooks are a great value that will instantly add over 500,000+ popular eBook titles into your library's offerings, without the costs associated with print books. With our eBooks there is no need for shelves, book space, or additional computer resources. Other benefits include not having to worry about lost and stolen materials, re-shelving, delivering, tracking and maintenance of electronic materials.

Furthermore, all of our eBooks are available to your patrons from your institution or personal computer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with value added features such as text to speech, digital dictionary, digital highlighter, digital notepad and a full text search capability that makes eBooks a must have resource for your library.

What makes the World eBook Library unique?
Because the World eBook Library is a library consortia and not a publisher, our focus is on the needs of our members and not on selling proprietary material. For this reason we have the only comprehensive membership collection specifically designed to meet the needs of the library community. By tailoring our collection and services to meet these needs, we have addressed many of the most common complaints of individual students, teachers and other users of online educational resources.

Most eBook providers sell only individual or small eBook collections and restrict access to only one reader per eBook, and only allowing that reader to view one page or a partial page in a html frame online. Our collection is different. We offer your patrons complete simultaneous access to our entire collection without any additional cost. This means an unlimited number of authorized patrons can review, read, download, and even print for personal or educational purposes. The World eBook Library encourages your patrons to download and use any or all of our collection for their personal use.

Why does the World eBook Library use the PDF format?
By using PDF eBooks with Adobe Acrobat reader we are able to offer an enhanced reading experience using the most widely used, versatile and well-understood eBook format available today. By using PDF technology we ensure that each eBook meets our high quality standards while expanding eBook capabilities with special features unavailable in other digital formats.

What special features are available?
By using PDF eBooks with Adobe's eBook Reader we are able to offer unique features such as text to speech, digital dictionary, digital highlighter, digital notepad and a full text search capability, and easy download ability with every PDF eBook. These features combined with our powerful Google search engine allows your patrons to find what they want, when they want it, in a matter of seconds instead of hours.

How can eBooks support our distance-learning efforts?
eBooks fit especially well with any distance-learning program because patrons who may not have easy accesses to libraries can have the resources of a library from the convenience and comfort of a personal computer. Busy families, professionals, distance learners, college students, researches and nontraditional library users can all immensely benefit from having the full resources of the World eBook Library at their fingertips.

What kind of library tracking is available?
In keeping with our desire to meet the needs of our members we offer full website traffic reports detailing how your institution and patrons use World eBook Library's materials.

How will your patrons be able to find our eBooks?
Your patrons can find our eBooks easily by using our Google Advance Full Text Search Engine.

How does the World eBook Library get its materials?
We obtain our materials by converting traditional books into eBooks and by accepting eBooks from copyright holding authors. We also obtain eBooks by accepting materials from participating World eBook Library consortium members and by making alliances with publishers and other information-based providers. Once an eBook is received it is then enhanced to meet the high quality standards of the World Public Library Consortia.

How can my library become a member?
Becoming a member is easy. Just visit http://WorldeBookLibrary.org/Join.htm insert your payment, and select a user name and password. Once your FTE size and payment have verified your library will be enriched with the benefits of a World Public Library enhanced membership within 24 hours.

Is your rate card publicly available?
Yes, we publish a complete price sheet. It is available at http://WorldeBookLibrary.org/RateSheet.htm

What guarantee do I have that I can get what I want when I want?
The World eBook Library stands by our commitments to serve our members and in doing so we offer a 99.5% operational guarantee.

What are our minimum system requirements?
The only system requirements are that you can access from the Internet. Please contact Adobe at http://adobe.com for a complete list of system requirements for use of the Adobe Acrobat Reader on your system.