eBooks

eBooks are really just books that you read on some type of screen, but it can definitely get a little confusing. This guide will help you figure out the different ways you can read eBooks and where to get them. 

Ereaders	Laptops	Tablets	Smartphones
eReaders are designed specifically for the purpose of obtaining and reading eBooks. They use special eInk screens for better readability and longer battery life. Examples: Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Nook Sony Reader	These are mobile computers, capable of most functions performed by larger desktop computers. Examples: MacBook Dell Inspirion Sony Vaio	Tablets are mobile devices that merge many of the features of a laptop and a smartphone, and use a touch screen interface. Examples: iPad Galaxy Tab Nook Color	Smartphones are Web-enabled phones that feature a variety of enhanced data services. Examples: Blackberry iPhone HTC EVO Droid

FILE FORMATS

eBooks come in a wide variety of formats, and knowing a few of the main file types can help you find ebooks that work for you. 

ePUB (.epub) - Supported by most devices. Ebooks from your library are often .epub files. Amazon Kindle will begin supporting .epub files Summer 2011.

Kindle (.azw) - Amazon's Kindle eReader is now supported by Maryland's Digital Library Consortium.

Portable Document Format (.pdf) - Consistent displays on every screen. Most devices can open .pdfs. Requires Adobe Acrobat.

HyperText Markup Language (.html) - The standard format for webpages. Computers can read .html, but most ereaders do not.