Overdrive Announces Free eBook Authoring Software Program

Overdrive has announced that it will distribute free over 10,000 units of ReaderWorks Publisher software and 500 units of the ReaderWorks Software Developers Kit (SDK) to educational institutions.

Based on the street-price of Overdrive's software, the program amounts to a donation of over $2.5 million. The ReaderWorks software features include the ability to build ebooks for Microsoft Reader from HTML or Open eBook package (.OPF) files.

The difference between the ReaderWorks Publisher and the (already free) ReaderWorks Standard is the level of control one has over the look of the eBooks created -- with the Publisher you can set all the images, cover and the like.

The "3e Education Program" (standing for eReading, eWriting and eBooks) and any school, university, or other educational institution worldwide may apply through the website for the free products. Institutions can apply by visiting Overdrive's web site and filling out the form online.