Web Standards for E-books

This article is a bit long but it is well worth reading:

March 9, 2010
Web Standards for E-books
by Joe Clark
(From A List Apart: for people who make websites)

He makes a good case as to why HTML (and ultimately HTML5 or XML) make a good standard for eBooks.

Do we want to be tied to an e-reader?

Gizmodo also chimes in on why we should be suspicious of the ePub format and DRM.

Giz Explains: How You’re Gonna Get Screwed By Ebook Formats

“”We use the epub format: It is the most popular open book format in the world.” That’s how Steve Jobs announced the iPad. And wow, that sounds like all the ebooks you own will just work on anything. Um, no.
The idea of an open ebook format that works on any reader sounds nice. Buy it from any source, read it on any device. In a few cases, it’s true, and that open format thing can work for you. But, in reality, right now? You’re pretty much going to be stuck reading books you buy for one device or ecosystem in that same little puddle, thanks to DRM. And well, Amazon.”

It continues to outline the issues involved and ends up promoting that HTML/PDF still rule in terms of acquisition of eBook content and interoperability. It ends with the hope that apps and HTML5 will be the ‘great shiny hope’.

All food for thought – and I think the end of the game hasn’t been played yet. As libraries we know that device dependent content has been a problem since before microfilm. Let’s try to avoid doing that again. 😉

Stephen