'Collections', PDF E-Mailing and Printing coming to iBooks

Update: We’ve received screenshots of the new iBooks update with ‘Collections.’ Check them out and read the details below:

Just yesterday we reported that Steve Jobs informed a customer that better iBooks management would be ‘coming’ and today we got our hands on the details. First of all folders are indeed coming to iBooks for iOS and are similar to the folders on the iOS 4 homescreen. Users will be able to create their own ‘Collections’ which they can call whatever they like.

There will be two default collections: Book and PDF’s. If you look in your iBooks app right now you will notice that these two collections already exist. The new ‘collections’ feature lets you create your own lists that hold books and PDF’s. You can even move the collections and the items in them around.

From looking at these Apple documents it appears that collections will be a button you tap on the iBooks toolbar that brings up a list of all your collections but it also appears there will be ‘collections’ actually sitting on your bookshelf.

Also, you will now be able to take PDF’s you have stored in iBooks and e-mail them off to whomever you would like. Printing PDF’s via AirPrint will also come in this update which should be handy for many users. Apple will also be very clear to say that the printing and e-mailing of actual books is not happening.

No word on when iBooks will be getting these new features but they should be coming very soon. Apple’s document regarding the new features is after the break:

Create, rename, or delete a collection: Tap Collections to display the collections list. Tap New to add a new collection. To delete a collection tap Edit, then tap and tap Delete. You can’t edit or remove the built-in Books and PDFs collections. To edit the name of a collection, tap its name. When you finish, tap Done.

Move a book or PDF to a collection: Go to the bookshelf and tap Edit. Tap each book or PDF that you want to move so that a checkmark appears, then tap Move and select a collection. An item can be in only one collection at a time. When you add a book or PDF to your bookshelf, it’s put in the Books or PDF collection. From there, you can move it to a different collection. You might want to create collections for work and school, for example, or for reference and leisure reading.

View a collection: Tap Collections, then tap an item in the list that appears.

You can use iBooks to send a copy of a PDF via email, or to print all or a portion of the PDF to a supported printer.

Email a PDF: Open the PDF, then tap and choose Email Document. A new message appears with the PDF attached. Tap Send when you finish addressing and writing your message.

Print a PDF: Open the PDF, then tap and choose Print. Select a printer and the page range and number of copies, then tap Print. For information about supported printers, see “Printing” on page 39.

You can only email or print PDFs. These options aren’t available for ePub books.