EPUB & EPUB3

There are a few formats to become familiar with as you create your eBook. We’ll start with EPUB and EPUB3.

EPUB & EPUB3 (for Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple iBooks, Kobo, etc.)

This is the standard eBook format, and the most flexible. This is also the format you want to use if you are creating an open textbook, so that other faculty can download it and adapt it for their own use (while still ensuring you receive credit as the original creator).

You will need an eReader to use ePub files. eReaders are available as stand alone devices (such as a Barnes & Noble Nook or Kobo reader) and as software packages that you can install on your PC, Mac, tablet or mobile phone.

There are a number of eReaders available for free, and many have features such as cloud syncing, which allows you to read your book on a tablet, PC and phone and keep the book in sync. Many also offer annotation and note-taking capabilities.

ePub readers can reflow based on the size of the device you are reading on, giving you a smooth side to side reading experience. You can also resize the text.

Use ePub if you have a Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo or other dedicated eReading device or have downloaded and installed eReader software on your tablet, PC, or mobile device. Note that the Amazon Kindle does not support ePub. Instead you will want to use the .mobi format.

EPUB3 is particularly friendly for non-Roman characters and languages that read up/down and right to left. It can also incorporate your embedded media (audio or video files from your Media Gallery) so that readers can view them offline. ^[1]

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