Keying Into Literature
Frustration was the catalyst that drove two Garden Grove brothers to start World Library Inc., which publishes literary works on CD-ROM.
After searching reference books for three days to find an obscure quotation from 18th-Century German philosopher Immanuel Kant, Robert Hustwit came up with the idea of poring over great literature electronically. He and his brother, William, launched their company in 1989 and published the first edition of “Library of the Future” in June, 1990. It contained the texts of 450 works of literature.
The family-run business soon followed with editions that included even more text. The $395 third edition had 3,500 works plus illustrations and video clips.
World Library now has 20 titles and has shipped about 200,000 copies. Distributors include Compton’s NewMedia, an electronic encyclopedia publisher that is one of the industry’s largest multimedia companies.
William Hustwit said he expects sales to double or even triple this year, and the privately held company will be moving its headquarters from Garden Grove to Irvine to accommodate that growth. “As more consumers buy computers with CD-ROM drives, they want a lot more than just text,” he said.
Building on its success, World Library recently started a subsidiary to go beyond the electronic book. Called Cinerom Inc., it is headed by Hustwit’s 27-year old daughter, Sharon.
The company, a joint venture with Hollywood Select Video Corp., will launch in mid-February “The Gospels: A Multimedia Bible Guide.” The $49.95 title contains nearly two hours of video, more than 100 illustrations, and audio segments of the four religious texts of the Bible. The user will be able to listen to passages of Scripture while reading them on the screen or watching scenes from Biblical movies.
Cinerom Inc. also aims to publish a series of CD-ROMs adapted from home video titles such as “The Three Stooges” and “Our Gang.” In effect, the subsidiary will create interactive movies, Sharon Hustwit said.
While “Library of the Future” appealed to researchers and book lovers, she said, “I think Cinerom will have a wider appeal, especially among younger people.”
As improved data storage techniques enable the company to put as many as six movies on a single disc, William Hustwit said, the CD-ROM could be a rival to the videocassette. “You could watch all three parts of ‘The Godfather’ on one disc,” he said.
