Free textbooks are an answer to the high prices of traditional textbook publishers. Many states in the USA are moving towards broadening the definition of "textbook" with an eye towards more interactive digital formats.http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/02/25/signs-of-a-significant-disruption-in-the-traditional-textbook-model.aspx The latest trends, news, and links to the trend towards free textbooks and the business models behind them are found on this page.

Digital versions of textbooks are increasingly popular. Coursesmart, a division of McGraw-Hill Education, now makes 7,000 textbooks available on the Apple iPhone and soon the more suitable screen size of the iPad.http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2009/08/CourseSmart_takes_on_Kindle_puts_textbooks_on_iPhone52896027.html However, these ebooks are just digital versions using the traditional textbook model, but now account for 7% of textbook sales revenue.http://www.campusgrotto.com/where-to-download-textbooks.html

A new textbook business model is emerging with the company called Flat World Knowlege. The books are free online and include interactive capabilities.http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090109/1834123353.shtml What they charge for are convenience features like a print or PDF version.http://www.flatworldknowledge.com/

Other professors are turning towards "open source" (more correctly free to use) textbooks as some professors place their textbooks on the internet for free.http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080819/0326152027.shtml These aren't just out of print textbooks but new books as well. The website Textbooksfree.org has the most comprehensive links to free textbooks around the world.

The textbook market is likely to be going through upheaval in the years ahead. Check out this page for the latest developments, news, and links. There are also links to free textbook (mostly out-of print or past copyright) websites.

There are a number of textbook readers for touchscreen devices like the Amazon Kindlehttp://ireaderreview.com/2009/05/07/kindle-dx-textbook-reader/ and the Apple iPad http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2009/08/CourseSmart_takes_on_Kindle_puts_textbooks_on_iPhone52896027.html. A likely ebook reader app for the iPad will be by ScrolllMotion who has ties with several publishers.http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/23912/ Coursesmart has also introduced an iPad/iPhone reader (see video below).

National Repository for Online Courses (NROC)http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-04-28-ihe-online-courses_N.htm

Wikibooks - Free Textbooks:http://techpp.com/2010/03/04/wikibooks-free-textbooks-online/ Over 36,000 pages kindergarten-to-college curriculum - created by volunteers around the world. Free and freely distributable, based on an open-source development model.

The KeyReader is able to access over 900,000 digital books in the collection of the Singapore National Library Board (NLB) for free.http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_494762.html

Open educational resources groups such as Connexions and the Open Educational Resources Consortiumhttp://www.usnews.com/education/paying-for-college/articles/2009/09/02/4-ways-to-get-college-textbooks-free.html

Flatworld Knowledge has posted 11 business-oriented textbookshttp://www.usnews.com/education/paying-for-college/articles/2009/09/02/4-ways-to-get-college-textbooks-free.html

Search for free digital texbooks to download using the free iPhone application called Book$Price from Direct Textbookhttp://www.prweb.com/releases/college-textbooks

BookBoon.com is an advertiser-supported downloadable textbook website.http://www.loyolagreyhound.com/media/storage/paper665/news/2010/02/23/News/Bookboon.com.Works.To.Alleviate.Students.Of.Textbook.Bills-3876887.shtml

FreeTechBooks for free computer science and programming textbookshttp://www.friedbeef.com/7-best-places-to-download-free-textbooks/

Freebooks4Doctors for over 300 free medical textbooks and other resourceshttp://www.friedbeef.com/7-best-places-to-download-free-textbooks/

University for Free focuses on sharing of free University texts (student-driven)http://www.friedbeef.com/7-best-places-to-download-free-textbooks/

Free High School Science Texts - free science and mathematics textbooks for Grades 10 to 12http://www.friedbeef.com/7-best-places-to-download-free-textbooks/

Wikibooks for free editable educational bookshttp://www.friedbeef.com/7-best-places-to-download-free-textbooks/