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In April 2018, WWPA launched the Western Lumber Grading Rules eBook for Amazon Kindle and Apple iBooks. The eBook can be downloaded onto a smartphone using the Kindle Reader Phone App or a computer using the Kindle Reader Desktop App. The eBook allows quick access and easy navigation to WWPA Grading Rules, whether at the office or on the move.
Since 1965 the WWPA Western Lumber Grading Rules book has been the go-to source for definitions on lumber standards. Builders, engineers, architects and mill personnel rely on the terminology and provisions provided in its pages. The WWPA eBook now equips industry professionals with a dynamic and responsive tool to harvest the book’s content.
Although eBooks have not replaced the need for paper books, there are some keen advantages to being able to access a book from a phone or computer. An eBook gives the reader control on how the book’s content is displayed. Font styles and size can be adjusted to the reader’s preferences. Pages can be bookmarked and content can be highlighted for easy referencing. Words, phrases and terms are searchable using the Kindle App search tool. Notes can be written by the reader and attached to words, paragraphs or pages for future sourcing.
Most eBooks do not have an interactive index but WWPA upped the eBook game by providing the Grading Rules eBook with responsive, in-depth cross-referencing navigation. With nearly 150 index topics to explore, the reader merely taps on the index subject heading and is automatically taken to the correct section of the book.
The WWPA eBook also includes “Page Flip,” a handy Kindle navigation mechanism. If you need to reference a chart or graph on another page while you’re reading, Page Flip “pins” your current page to the side of the screen when you swipe away from it to explore other parts of the book. Tap your pinned page to instantly jump back to your original starting point.
When needing to share content from the book, to clarify grading definitions with co-workers, customers or other professionals, scanning pages and emailing content can be time consuming. With a Kindle eBook, paragraphs, sentences and words can be highlighted/copied and shared via email or instant messaging.
When working with professionals where English is not their first language, a translation tool is available to help with communication. By highlighting the area of the eBook you want to translate, you can then select from a variety of languages to interpret. In some cases, for instance Spanish and Chinese, an audio translation is provided.
Russ Tuvey, WWPA director of quality standards, attests to the eBook’s value. “The eBook comes in handy while I’m on the road or in a mill,” said Tuvey. “The navigation tools allow me to search the book quickly for the information I need.”
The Kindle Reader for PC provides quick access and dynamic navigation of the WWPA Western Lumber Grading Rules.
The WWPA eBook book is available for both Android and iPhone users from Amazon. Those using Android OS can download the book directly from their Kindle Reader. iPhone users can only download Kindle books through their phone’s web browser or desktop PC computer using their Amazon account. From there they can sync the eBook to their iPhone Kindle Reader.
iPhone users can also download the WWPA eBook through their Apple iBooks account.
