MIT Press and Tizra create online library

MIT Press has signed an agreement with Tizra to use the company’s recently launched Agile PDF software platform to create a website that will enable users to find, buy and view online versions of books published by the press.

MIT Press’s print works have long been noteworthy for reaching a broad audience beyond scholarly and professional readers, but prior to the initiative with Tizra, its online audience has been more specialised. Because the new service will be available to individual as well as university and institutional customers, it represents a significant step toward broader online access to MIT Press content. The service also represents the first time the press has sold online versions of its computer and information science books — which naturally appeal to online researchers.

‘We are very happy to be working with Tizra,’ said MIT press director Ellen W. Faran. ‘Our books reach a wide audience of professionals, students, and general readers, and the Tizra platform enables us to offer them a greater choice of digital formats. Most importantly, it will allow us to experiment with a variety of electronic offerings to find out what will best meet the needs of our readers.’

The site is scheduled to go live this month with books from the press’s Computer Science and related collections. ‘Authors have been asking about online packaging— sometimes even before they sign with us,’ said Ada Brunstein, the press’s Computer Science editor. ‘They know it's important to readers, and many also believe seeing the content online will actually increase interest in purchasing the printed book.’