Bloomsbury offers one year free digital access to Indian and world cricket content

India is a country of 1.3 billion citizens, but a very limited public library system and huge appetite for education, culture and sport. Digital distribution has long been mooted as a solution to this problem, as it avoids the inadequate logistic systems, poor transport, and huge distances in the country.

A recent venture by Bloomsbury Publishing has seen the creation of a new all-India digital initiative to support India’s love of and obsession with cricket.

Launched to coincide with the fourth test match of India-West Indies series, the initiative will allow all citizens with an Indian IP address free access for a year to a library of cricket books at Public Library Online from Wisden.

The library includes all four Wisden India Almanacks, the last five Wisden Shorter Almanacks, the Wisden Book of Test Cricket 2009-14, Wisden on the Ashes, Benaud in Wisden and Don’ts for Cricketers.

Richard Charkin, Executive Director Bloomsbury and Chairman of John Wisden & Co, said: “This initiative, sponsored by Bloomsbury, combines four obsessions – public access to books, digital delivery, cricket, and India. This is great news for cricket and great news for the people of India.”

Meanwhile, Jahir Hussain, CEO of Public Library Online, said: “We are excited to offer public library online eBooks to the entire Indian Public. We feel proud to be part of the ‘Digital India’ chapters.”