"The New York Times" says (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/perseus-signs-an-ebooks...) that Apple has struck a deal with Perseus Books Group, an independent publisher, to bring its content to the iBookstore on the iPad.

Perseus Books Group, which also distributes works from 330 other smaller presses including Grove Atlantic, Harvard Business School Press, Zagat and City Lights Books, signed a deal last week with Apple, following five of the six biggest publishers that have already signed agreements with Apple, says the "Times."

The iPad will come with an iBookstore app. will feature books from major and independent publishers. The free iBooks app lets you buy books from the iBookstore. Once you’ve bought a book, it’s displayed on your Bookshelf. Just tap it to start reading.