Scribd unveils digital book subscription

Document-sharing website Scribd Tuesday launched a digital subscription program for books.

The cloud-based service will allow subscribers to read books on their iPhone, iPad, Android devices and web browsers for $8.99 a month.

HarperCollins signed on as Scribd’s first major publishing partner, so most of the books available through the subscription as of now were published by them, according to a statement released by the two companies Tuesday.

Scribd’s subscriber base has grown 60% a month since the launch of its digital book library earlier this year, according to the statement. It currently has 80 million users in 100 different countries and 40 million books and documents.

“Since starting Scribd six years ago, we have gained a lot of experience building a library of books and written works, growing a global community and gathering data on what readers and publishers want,” Scribd CEO and co-founder Trip Adler said in the statement. “Those insights have helped us build a product that we believe delivers on a new and better reading experience by giving our customers instant access to a vast collection of books to read, across a wide array of the top digital devices, all for one low monthly price.”

Scribd’s subscription service will also recommend books to readers based on what they previously read. To subscribe, visit scribd.com.