Abstract

Access to certain books has always been a challenge for many people within the scholarly community due to the fact that in their physical form they may not exist in many libraries around the world. One of the reasons why some books may not exist in some libraries is the fact that these books do not exist in all languages. For instance, most science and technology books are written in English, and the majority of people in developing nations do not speak, write, or read English. The paper discusses the role of online applications that translate digital texts into other languages and how these instant translators facilitate book reading for Non-english speakers. The study finds online translators to be significant tools for scholars and students worldwide who have limited access to physical libraries and books in their native languages. Preliminary data indicate that electronic devices such as the iPad as well as a host of other tools play an important role in leveling the playing field of books and other written contents. The study shows that virtual books play a significant role in reducing the knowledge gap among researchers and scholars compared to hard copies of the same resources.