Microsoft Bookshelf was a
reference collection introduced in 1987 as part of
Microsoft's extensive work in promoting
CD-ROM technology as a distribution medium for
electronic publishing. The original
MS-DOS version showcased the massive storage capacity of CD-ROM technology, and was accessed while the user was using one of 13 different word processor programs that Bookshelf supported. Subsequent versions were produced for
Windows and became a commercial success as part of the
Microsoft Home brand. It was often bundled with
personal computers as a cheaper alternative to the
Encarta Suite. The Encarta Deluxe Suite / Reference Library versions also bundled Bookshelf.