books to ebooks

the future of reading is digital

European books available as eBooks on request and for a reasonable price

The vision

European libraries are hosting millions of books published from 1500 to 1900. Due to their age and value, they are often only accessible to users actually present at these libraries.

With the EOD service these hidden treasures now become available to everybody - just a few mouse clicks away. Users are to order eBooks via library catalogues; the libraries then digitise the requested item and send it to the user via the EOD service network. The books digitised in this way are incorporated into the digital libraries of the participating libraries and thus be accessible on the Internet. As of 2009, these books can also be ordered as a reprint in the form of a "real" trade paper book in addition to the digital version.

eBooks on Demand for readers

eod button. on request in digital form

Whenever you see a catalogue entry with this sign, you will be able to order this book as an EOD eBook!

eBooks on Demand in libraries

The EOD service was started within the framework of the project "Digitisation on Demand" co-funded by the eTEN programme line.

This EU project was launched in October 2006 with 13 libraries from 8 European countries and ran until June 2008.
By July 2008, a self-sustained network was established with these 13 libraries as founding members. Since then, other libraries from other countries have also been continuously joining the network - they are the so called “associated members” and start to offer this service, too.

From May 2009 until April 2013, EOD will be co-financed by the EC under the Culture Programme. 20 libraries from 10 European countries take part in this follow-up project which focuses mainly on the following 3 objectives:

  • to enlarge the EOD network with new European members
  • to take EOD as a best practice model for a European-wide cooperation, to train stakeholders (libraries, museums, or other cultural operators) to run such a multinational cultural service based on state-of-the-art information technologies
  • to support intercultural dialogue among readers and users of historical books with the help of web 2.0 technology

All European libraries are therefore encouraged to get in touch with the co-ordinator to also become an EOD library

Read more about the network and service:
Mühlberger, Günter / Gstrein, Silvia: "EBooks on Demand (EOD): a European Digitization Service." IFLA Journal. 35. 1 (2009): 35-43. Online: http://archive.ifla.org/V/iflaj/IFLA-Journal-1-2009.pdf

Gstrein, Silvia / Mühlberger, Günter (2011): "Producing eBooks on Demand - A European Library Network" In: Price, Kate / Havergal, Virginia: E-Books in Libraries, London: Facet Publishing: p. 37-52. Download book chapter.