Springer Launches New e-Book Offering

by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 6/27/2006

Springer used this past weekend's American Library Association's annual convention to help launch its newest initiative to deliver its content electronically. The Springer eBook Collection debuted June 24 with more than 10,000 e-books that included electronic versions of textbooks, reference works, atlases and monographs. And to accelerate the adoption of e-books by libraries and other insitutions, Springer is offering its e-books without any digital rights management software.

"We think there are too many barriers to use when employing DRM," said Ray Colon, global manager for Springer e-book's operation. Libraries that buy Springer e-books will have full archiving rights, permitting multiple students and professors to access a book simultaneously or download the pdf and print the work out. "We are only asking our customers not to use the e-books commercially," Colon said.

The e-book colletion can be accessed through www.springerlink.com and the contents are fully searchable. In addition, e-books are being sold through such outlets as NetLibrary and Amazon. While customers can order full collections, individual titles will be available, and Springer will also sell titles by chapter. Initially, Springer will make its e-books available through all Adobe compliant devices, and Colon said he expects laptops to be a favorite viewing platform. The company is willing to make its e-books compatiable with systems, "but we want to see how the market develops," Colon said.