Ebrary, an online library resource offering access to academic content, has entered into an agreement with Yale University Press to make thousands of its backlist titles available online.

Chris Warnock, CEO of ebrary, said the collection will "greatly enhance ebrary.com. The Yale collection offers a treasure trove of content, ranging from reference works to scholary monographs."

John G. Ryden, director of Yale University Press, said the deal with ebrary gives the press protection from unauthorized digital copying while "allowing us to share our collections with anyone with Internet access. At the same time, ebrary ensures that our works maintain their unique visual design. We also welcome the opportunity to generate additional revenue, increase exposure and build branding."

Ebrary.com offers free secure access to a digital archive of books, journals, maps and periodicals. Using Adobe PDF technology, ebrary can display content in its original print design, while offering digital copyright protection to publishers. Consumers can access full-text content but pay to copy or print out portions of a document. The site also offers search tools and links to online retailers to buy books.