WASHINGTON — Following the launch of its upgraded, mobile-friendly website, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has converted its popularresidential manual into an eBook to better serve both the roofing industry and consumers alike.

ARMA has partnered with Lulu.com, the division of Lulu that is the pioneer in independent publishing, to offer the Residential Asphalt Roofing Manual as both an eBook and print-on-demand book. This new extension of the association’s bookstore offers customers options that are more affordable, accessible and convenient.

The new ARMA eBook can be accessed on any e-reader device, including smart phones, tablets, the Kindle device from Amazon and the Nook eReader from Barnes and Noble. Roofing professionals can now access the manual from a range of light, convenient devices and bring it with them to any jobsite. An eBook format also allows users to bookmark key pages or diagrams, take notes and change the font size for better viewing. The ARMA eBook is also being offered at a new low price of $19.99, down from $40 when it was only sold as a printed copy.               

The print-on-demand version of the Residential Asphalt Roofing Manual, which was updated earlier this year,allows the publication to ship straight from the printing press to the customer at a reduced cost of $25. ARMA is also offering discounts for bulk purchases.

“By utilizing the advances in self-publishing technology, ARMA will be able to offer reliable technical information to even more industry professionals,” said Reed Hitchcock, executive vice president of ARMA. “Our manual is a valuable resource that can now be purchased and downloaded instantly, anywhere and at any time.”

ARMA plans to convert all of its publications into this new electronic format, and sell them as eBooks as well as print-on-demand books in the future. ARMA offers a wide variety of general, educational, and specialized design and installation guides for both residential and commercial asphalt roofing systems.

 For more information, visit www.asphaltroofing.org.