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Internet Archive

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Free e-Books

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Online Resources
50 Cool Search Engines for Serious Readers

100 Useful Links for ebook lovers

20 Best Websites to Download Free eBooks

Comparison of eReaders
Comparison of eBook Readers on Wikipedia

The eBook Reader

eReader Comparison Guide

An eBook (electronic book) is a book in digital format that you can download to your computer and read using a sofware program. Depending on the specific format, the eBook can be read on a computer, PDA, or dedicated reader device with the proper software.
www.swlearning.com/ebooks/glossary.html

eBooks come in many different formats.  These are some of the most popular:

• PDF (.pdf):  A very popular eBook format from Adobe which most eReaders support.  Because PDFs are meant to recreate a larger printed page, there are sometimes problems with text size and display on eReaders
  
  
• Kindle (.azw): Native format for Amazon's Kindle products which typically comes with DRM protection to limit sharing.
  
  
• EPUB (.epub): Another popular format, particularly favored by public libraries.  Most eBooks loaned in this format come with DRM protection.
  
  
• MobiPocket (.mobi): MobiPocket has also released software to easily convert files from .epub to .mobi
  
  
• Text (.txt): A basic plain text format which is easy to create but cannot contain images

GSU Law Library:  http://libguides.law.gsu.edu/ebooks

• Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader:  Acrobat is Adobe's software for displaying PDF (Portable Document Format) files.  PDF is one of the most common eBook formats used.  Currently, there are versions of Acrobat for Mac, Windows, Unix and Linux.
  
  
• Adobe Digital Editions:  Adobe Digital Editions is software that allows you to download and view certain eBooks on your computer.  In some cases you can transfer the downloaded eBook from your personal computer to other computers or eReaders or devices.
  
  
• DRM (Digital Rights Management):  This is technology that is used to protect digital products from copyright infringement.  When you buy a DRM-protected eBook, the book is encyrpted specifically for you.  To view the eBook, you must activate your software, a process that verifies your identity and provides an electronic key for opening your eBooks.
  
  
• Encryption:  A method used to translate digital information into a code that cannot be accessed without the necessary secret password or key that unencrypts it.
  
  
• Flash Plug-in:  Flash plug-ins enable you to view documents that have been created using Flash software.  This accessory is necessary to complete the download fron Adobe Digital Editions.  The plug-in can be downloaded from Adobe.
  
  
• Reading Device: A reading device is the hardward a user uses to read an eBook.  Devices currently available include dedicated eBook devices, smartphones, and personal computers.
  
  
• Web Reader:  Web readers allow you to read eBooks through a web browser with online access and JavaScript enabled.

eBook Glossaries:  Planet eBook Glossary      Powell's Books Glossary      South-Western Cengage Learning Glossary