Springer has started its own online book review program, making 10,000 of its titles available for review on springer.com. The online book review copies includes all English-language e-books that have been published since 2006. According to Springer, the service is designed for journalists, editors and book reviewers who are granted temporary reading access.

Under the program, reviewers fill out a registration form that includes listing their title and publication and then receive access to their selected online book review copies for six months. Reviewers are allowed to review up to 10 books simultaneously. Springer believes the time limitations and restriction on the number of books will prevent abuse. Books that have not yet been published can be reserved and reviewers notified by e-mail when they are available. Reviewers can upload their published reviews and once the date of appearance has been confirmed, the reviewer can order a print copy of the book free of charge.

In addition to Springer books, review copies of titles from Humana Press, Current Medicine Group and Birkhäuser Boston are also available online. The system also allows some titles that haven’t been available for review to be accessible. The next step will be to make Springer’s German-language books available for online book reviews.