Turkey’s first electronic book library opens

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

“From now on it will be easier for everyone to reach Turkish-language books online,” said Hayri Yavuz, managing director of the Hiperlink Limited Company

Facilitating access to a wealth of academic data on the Internet, a company is continuing its work to digitalize Turkish-language books for the online world with the aim of eventually extending its services to everyone.

“From now on it will be easier for everyone to reach Turkish-language books online,” said Hayri Yavuz, managing director of the Hiperlink Limited Company, which includes titles from 220 publishing houses in its online system, called HiperKitap (HyperBook). “HiperKitap allows one to reach the right data faster and easier.”

The Turkish online library provides an opportunity for everyone to access academic data, he said, adding that approximately 60 universities can currently reach the archives at 111.hiperkitap.com.

After creating the necessary infrastructure, the library will also be available for everyone, said Yavuz.

“This is a new issue in Turkey. We started by transferring the content to the cyber environment,” he said, adding that some of the publishing houses were currently renewing their deals with writers.

“Since 2009, we have signed a deal with more than 200 publishing houses and we transformed more than 3,000 books to a web-based environment,” Yavuz said, adding that with the new subscriptions, the number of books had reached 3,500.

The company’s first aim is to reach the academic world, Yavuz said, noting the number of scholars that were already subscribing to the system. “We have completed our first trial period. All the tests are completed and we have created the HiperKitap project.”

Yavuz said they had received many offers from universities and added that 23 universities signed up to the project initially.

 This system also makes distance learning easier, said the company’s general manager, adding that the system would contribute to all kind of academic research.

This system can also be used in public libraries, said Yavuz, adding that with the support of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the company presented the system in 500 public libraries during Library Week. “We have received much positive feedback.”

“We need to develop this system and not limit ourselves just to Turkey,” said Yavuz.