eBooks: Changing the Face of Books

Abstract

The written world changed when Gutenberg built his printing press with moveable type. This revolutionary invention prepared the way for the mass publication of books. Now, much like the original Gutenberg, Project Gutenberg seeks to imitate the printing press's impact through electronic publication. Since its beginnings in 1971, Project Gutenberg has created over 18,000 electronic books. The number of titles is expanding daily, as is the amount of information available to persons everywhere. While the impact of the eBook is not as revolutionary as the original printing press, it is influencing education today. Teachers and students are increasingly using multimedia in the learning process, and eBooks play a vital role in that. Providing easy access to classic and influential works, eBooks allow more students to take advantage of the learning of the past in a format of today.