Microsoft Bookshelf

Microsoft Bookshelf

Microsoft Bookshelf 2000 home page
Developer(s)	Microsoft
Initial release	September 8, 1987; 37 years ago (1987-09-08)[1]
Final release	2000 / 1999; 25 years ago (1999)
Operating system	MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, Classic Mac OS
Successor	Microsoft Encarta
Type	Reference work, encyclopedia
Website	Microsoft Encarta Bookshelf at the Wayback Machine (archived June 21, 2000)

Microsoft Bookshelf is a discontinued 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.