Two Free Tools for iBook Creation

A Concern for Future Generations

I anticipate being proven incorrect, however, I believe that future generations – particularly within my region – may experience a reduction in average physical stature compared to their ancestors. This consideration arose from consistent observation of my eldest daughter’s daily routine.

At just seven years old and in her initial year of primary school, the weight of her school bag, carried daily, surpasses that of my own work backpack. Consequently, I consistently offer assistance with carrying her belongings whenever possible.

The Weight of Extensive Coursework

It’s widely understood what comprises the burden: a substantial volume of textbooks. The competitive landscape among schools drives them to expand curricula, aiming to enhance their reputation (and increase revenue through book sales). Those who identify as educators should recognize that a greater number of subjects does not automatically equate to improved education.

The accurate assessment is that more subjects impose a greater strain on students, both physically and psychologically. Increased strain also diminishes a student’s capacity for focused learning.

Reforming school curricula is a complex undertaking, demanding sustained effort over years. It represents a near-impossible task for individuals. However, reducing the weight of textbooks is readily achievable. Electronic books are already familiar to those with computer access.

Envision students – and educators – without the need for physical textbooks. All learning materials are contained within a single electronic device in a digital format. This would demonstrably lessen the physical load. Furthermore, digital books can incorporate more than just text and images.

Potential Devices and Formats

Currently, reading on electronic devices isn’t quite as comfortable as reading printed pages.

Devices designed to replace printed books already exist, and laptops serve as common alternatives to dedicated e-readers. However, I believe Apple’s forthcoming iPad holds the potential to revolutionize this field.

While this “larger iPod Touch” isn’t intended as a notebook replacement, it functions as a highly capable e-reader. Apple has even established collaborations with major publishing houses and created its own e-book store, naming this digital format “iBook.”

Despite its ability to open various standard e-book formats, from simple text to Adobe’s PDF, Apple has adopted the free and open-source ePub as the standard for iBooks.

Considering Apple’s impact on the music and film industries through iPods and digital distribution, even a modest outcome would represent a significant achievement. We may soon see students carrying lightweight, stylish iPads containing all their textbooks in the iBook/ePub format.

Creating Your Own iBooks

As an open-source format, ePub books are readily available online. However, you can also create your own e-books in ePub format. Here are two free, multiplatform tools for iBook – or ePub – creation.

eCub: A lightweight ePub publisher compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris. Key features include:
- Creation of unencrypted ePub files from text or XHTML.
- Editing of files with internal or external editors.
- Simple cover design creation.
- Optional creation of title, content, and cover pages.
- Command-line operation for build scripts.
- Conversion of content to audio files (WAV or MP3).
Sigil: A WYSIWYG e-book editor available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Features include:
- WYSIWYG editing.
- Multiple views: Book View, Code View, and Split View.
- Metadata editor with support for over 200 entries.
- Table of Contents editor with multi-level support.
- Import of TXT, HTML, and ePub files.
- Export to ePub and SGF formats.

If you are interested in eBooks, explore our other articles: The Best 6 Sites to Get Free Ebooks, How To Convert Scanned Pages Into eReader eBook Format, Calibre - Mighty eBook Management Software (Multi-OS) and How To Download Books From Google Books.

Do you favor digital or traditional printed books? Are you aware of other free, multiplatform ePub publishers for creating iBooks? Share your thoughts in the comments below.