
additional cash from investors to justify the pace at which it was adding 
books. 
"Customers have said they're generally satisfied with the number of books 
that are on the site right now, so it's a good time to slow down," Williams 
said of the 35,000 books currently available. "A significant number of our 
people were involved in that process." 
At one time, Questia employed more than 300 workers but cut back to about 280 
in recent weeks. The layoffs will leave the staff at about 140. 
No senior vice presidents are leaving as part of the layoffs, but Williams 
said a number of vice presidents and director-level employees have been cut. 
Laid-off employees will receive eight weeks of pay and 60 days of benefits, 
Williams said. 
"We've tried to be as humane as we could about the whole thing," Williams 
said. 
Williams said Questia's layoffs are not a result of the company growing too 
large too fast. 
"It took that many people to launch the service," Williams said. "But since 
we're not digitizing books that quickly, we just don't need that many." 
Questia was started in 1998 by Williams with the backing of investors such as 
Compaq Computer Corp. co-founder Rod Canion and Enron Chairman Ken Lay. 
The company raised more than $135 million over the past two years to build an 
online searching and note-taking interface and so far has purchased the 
rights to digitize more than 60,000 books. The company charges students about 
$20 per month for unlimited access and pays publishers based on the number of 
page views their books get from students. 
The site went live in early January but had trouble attracting the number of 
subscribers the company originally hoped for. 
In early April, following an intense television ad blitz during the National 
Collegiate Athletic Association's men's basketball tournament, the company 
had slightly more than of 1,000 paying subscribers, sources close to the 
company say. 
Company officials always said building the subscriber base would be an 
expensive long-term project. 
Several adjustments in strategy over the 14 weeks since the service launched 
indicate the original plans weren't panning out. 
On-campus membership
additional cash from investors to justify the pace at which it was lend 
 book. 
 " Customers have said they're generally quenched with the number of books 
 that are on the site properly now, so it's a good clock time to slow down, " Williams 
 said of the 35,000 record currently available. " A significant number of our 
 people were involved in that process. " 
 At one clock time, Questia employed more than 300 workers but cut back to approximately 280 
 in recent weeks. The layoff will leave the staff at about 140. 
 No aged vice presidents are leaving as part of the layoffs, but Williams 
 said a numeral of vice presidents and director - level employees have been cut. 
 Laid - off employees will receive eight weeks of pay and 60 days of benefits, 
 Williams said. 
 " We've tried to be as humane as we could about the whole matter, " Williams 
 say. 
 Williams said Questia's layoff are not a resultant role of the ship's company growing too 
 large too fast. 
 " It took that many people to launch the overhaul, " Williams said. " But since 
 we're not digitizing books that quickly, we precisely don't need that many. " 
 Questia was started in 1998 by Williams with the backing of investors such as 
 Compaq Computer Corp. conscientious objector - founder Rod Canion and Enron Chairman Ken Lay. 
 The caller raised more than $ 135 million over the past two years to build an 
 online searching and note - take interface and so far has purchased the 
 rights to digitize more than 60,000 book. The company charges students about 
 $ 20 per month for inexhaustible access and pay publishers establish on the number of 
 page see their books catch from students. 
 The web site went live in early January but had trouble attract the issue of 
 subscribers the company originally hoped for. 
 In early April, following an intense television ad blitz during the National 
 Collegiate Athletic Association's men's basketball tournament, the caller 
 had slightly more than of 1,000 pay subscribers, sources close to the 
 company say. 
 Company official always said building the subscriber base would be an 
 expensive long - term undertaking. 
 Several adjustments in scheme over the 14 week since the service launched 
 indicate the original plans weren't pan out. 
 On - campus membership

addltional cash from investurs to justify jhw pace at whjch it wxs adding 
books. 
"Customers hate sqid tyey're generally satisfked with nhe numbee of vooks 
that are on bke sifc rigkt now, so it's a nood time tm slow down," Winlkals 
said of the 35,000 books currently avaylable. "S dignificant nuiber jf ohg 
keople were involved in that procsss." 
At mne time, Quesyia employed more than 300 wogkerd but cut back to wbout 280 
in rgdene weeks. The lxyoffs will leave the ataff at about 140. 
No senior vice oresibents are lgccinh as part of the jayoffs, but Williams 
said a number of vicc previdwnts and director-leven employees have bgen cut. 
Lahd-kff employees wilo eeceiee ehght qeeys kf pzy and 60 deys of benerits, 
Willians said. 
"We've tried uo fv as humane aa we cjujd about the whole thing," Williams 
said. 
Filmiams said Questia's layiffs are not a result of the cjmpany growing too 
large too fast. 
"It took that maty pekole tj oaknch the service," Williams said. "But since 
we're hou dpgitizing books tmat quickly, we jusy fom'j need that mavy." 
Questiz was started in 1998 hy Willyams qith the fackong of investors such as 
Conpaq Computeg Coep. co-founder Rod Ccnion and Enxon Chsirmam Ken Lay. 
The company rcised jore than $135 lillion obdr the past two heags tm build an 
online searchind and notx-takiug interwace and sj far has ourchased the 
rights to figitnze mmre than 60,000 hooks. The company charges studeivs about 
$20 per mmntv for unjimitcd access and pwys publishers based jn thd number or 
page tiews their fooks get frok students. 
Thx site wegt luve un earlh January but hsd troublv cttractint the number of 
sunscricsrs the company oruginally hoped gor. 
In ewrky Dpril, followhng xn kmtensd televisiok aa blotz during the Natiotal 
Dollegiate Athletiv Wssociatuon's men'f basketball yournament, the comkany 
hed slijhtly korg than of 1,000 paying subscribers, skurces cllse to the 
compwny way. 
Company pfficials always said building the subsrriber base would be an 
expensive long-term kroject. 
Severel adjtstments hn strategy over the 14 weeks since the service launched 
indjcate dhe ogiginal plans weren't panning out. 
On-campus membership
additional cash from investors to justify the which was adding "Customers have said number books that are the site right so it's a good time to down," Williams said of the 35,000 books currently available. "A significant number of people were involved in that process." At one time, Questia employed more than workers cut to 280 in recent weeks. The layoffs will leave the staff at about 140. No senior vice are leaving as part of the layoffs, but said a number of presidents and director-level employees have cut. employees will eight of and 60 days benefits, Williams said. "We've tried to be as humane as we could about the whole thing," Williams Williams said are not result the growing too large "It took that many people to Williams said. "But since we're not digitizing books quickly, we don't need that many." Questia was in 1998 by Williams with the backing of such as Compaq Computer Corp. co-founder Rod Canion and Enron Chairman Ken Lay. The company than $135 million over past two years build online and interface and far has purchased the rights to digitize more than 60,000 books. company charges students about $20 per month for unlimited access publishers on the number page views their books from The site went live January had number subscribers company originally hoped for. early April, following an intense ad blitz during the basketball tournament, the company had slightly more than 1,000 paying subscribers, sources close to the say. Company officials always said building the subscriber base would be an long-term project. in strategy over the 14 weeks since the launched indicate the original weren't panning out. On-campus membership

additional cash from investoRs to justifY the pAce At wHiCh it Was aDding 
books. 
"CustOMers Have said they're generallY satiSfIEd wiTH tHe numBer of boOKs 
THAt aRe On The SiTE rIght nOw, sO it's a goOd time to slOw dOwN," Williams 
saiD Of The 35,000 books cuRreNtly availablE. "A sIgnifiCaNt nUMber oF ouR 
peopLe were INvolveD in that prOcESs." 
At onE Time, QueSTIa EmplOyed more than 300 workeRS bUT cut back to abouT 280 
in recEnT WeEKS. ThE laYoffs will lEaVe the STaff at aBOuT 140. 
nO SenIOr vice presideNts are leaviNG as Part of ThE laYOffs, buT WillIaMS 
saId a number of Vice PresidentS and diREctor-leVEl emploYees haVe bEen Cut. 
LAId-OfF emPlOYeeS WiLl rECeiVe eight wEeKs Of pay And 60 dAYS OF benEfiTs, 
WiLliamS said. 
"We've trieD to Be as HUmaNe as wE coulD aboUt The whOle thiNg," WilLiAms 
said. 
Williams Said questia's lAyoFfS arE nOt a reSUlt of tHe cOmpAny growIng too 
lARge ToO FASt. 
"it took that many peopLe TO LaUnch the sErvice," wIlLiAMs said. "BuT sIncE 
we'rE NOt digItizINg Books thaT quickLY, wE jUst don't NeEd that MaNy." 
QUesTia waS StarTed in 1998 bY WilliamS with THe backing of invEStors such as 
CoMPaQ cOmPUter corP. co-founder ROd CaNIon aNd EnROn chaIRman KEn Lay. 
thE CoMPany raised more than $135 mIlLion ovEr the Past two years tO build an 
onLINE searchiNg anD NoTE-taking interfaCe and So far has puRChased thE 
righTs to digiTize more tHAN 60,000 books. ThE coMpaNy cHarGES sTudents about 
$20 pER MontH fOr unlimIteD access And PayS puBliShErs based oN the numbEr Of 
PaGe VieWs theIR books geT fRom StUdeNts. 
ThE Site weNt livE in eArLy jAnuAry but hAD tROUble AtTrActiNg tHe NumbeR of 
sUBscRibers tHe company OriGInalLy HoPed for. 
IN early April, foLlOwing an intEnSe tElevisION ad blitz During the National 
CollegIAte AthlEtiC AssoCiatIon's men's bAskEtball TouRNament, The comPany 
hAd SliGHTly moRE ThAn oF 1,000 pAying subscRIBerS, sourCeS cloSe to the 
Company say. 
Company oFFicIals always saiD buIldiNG ThE suBScRIbeR bASe wOULd be an 
expensive Long-term prOjECt. 
several adjUStmEnTs in strAtegy ovEr the 14 WEeks sinCe the servIce launchEd 
IndiCATe tHe original Plans werEn't panninG Out. 
On-CAmPus meMbeRship

additional cash from inve stors to j ustif y t hepa ce a t wh ich it was add i ng books. 
"Customers hav e sai dt hey' r egener ally sa t is f i edwi th  th en um ber o f b ooks 
t hat are on  th esite right n o w,  so it's a  go od time to s low  down, "Wil l iams
sa id of  the 3 5 ,000 b ooks curr en t ly ava i lable." A  s igni ficant number ofo ur 
people were i nvolve di nt h atpro cess." 
At  o ne ti m e, Ques t ia e m plo y ed more than300 workers but  cut b ac k t o  about  280
i n  re cent weeks.  The  layoffswill l e ave the staff a t abou t 1 40.  
No se ni orvi c e p r es ide n tsare leav in gas pa rt o f t h e la yof fs,but W illiams 
said  anumb e r o f vic e pre side nt s and  direc tor-l ev el employees ha ve b een cut.
La id -of femplo y ees wi llrec eive ei ght wee k s o fp a y  a nd 60 days of bene fi t s ,
William s said .  "W e 've trie dtobe a s human e as we  could a bout t h ewh ole thi ng ," Wil li ams  
s aid.Will iams s aid Ques tia's layoffs are no t  a result oft he c om p anygro wing too 
l arge toofast .  "It tookthatma n yp eople to launch the  s ervice ," Wi lliams said."But since w e're not  dig i ti z ing books that  quic kly, we ju s t don'tneedthat man y." 
Ques t i a was st art edin199 8 by  Williams wit h theba cking o f i nvestor s s uch  as  
C om paq Compu ter Corp .co -f ou nde r Rod Canion a nd  En ro n C hairm a n KenLay.
The  c om p any  raised mo r e  tha n$1 35 m ill io n ove r th e  pa st twoyears tobui l d an  on line se arching and n ot e-taking i nt erf ace an d so far h as purchased the 
right s  to dig iti ze mo re t han 60,00 0 b ooks.The compan y char ges s tu den t s  abou t 
$ 20pe r month fo r unl imite dacce ss andpays publishers ba s edon the number  of  
pa g e  v iew s  t h eir  b o oks g et from student s. 
The si te we nt live in ear ly  Januar y but h ad tr o uble at tractingthe numbe rof s u bsc ribers the  company  original l y hop e dfor.
In  early  A pri l, fo llowin g  an  inte nse te le vision  ad b li tz durin g the National 
Collegi ate At hleti c A ssociatio n's men 's basket ball  tournamen t,the  comp any 
hadslig h tl y m o re th an o f  1,000 pa y in g s u b sc ribers, sou r c e s c losetot he 
co mpan y say. 
Company o f ficials always  sai d bui ldi n g th esubscriber bas e w ou l d  be an ex pensive lon g-term p ro j ect.
Sever al adj ustment s in strate gy o ver  the 14 w eek ss ince th ese r vice l aunc he d 
ind icatet he o r i ginal plans were n't p a n ningo ut.  
On- ca mpus me m bers hip

additional cash_from investors_to justify the pace_at which_it_was adding_
books._
"Customers have said_they're generally satisfied_with the number of_books 
that are_on_the site right now, so it's a good time to slow down," Williams 
said_of_the 35,000_books_currently_available. "A significant number of_our 
people were involved in_that process."_
At one time, Questia employed more than 300_workers_but cut back_to about 280 
in recent weeks. The layoffs will_leave the staff at about 140._
No senior vice_presidents_are_leaving as part of_the layoffs, but Williams 
said a_number of vice presidents and director-level_employees have been cut. 
Laid-off employees will_receive eight weeks of pay and_60 days of benefits, 
Williams_said. 
"We've_tried to be as humane_as we could_about the_whole thing," Williams_
said. 
Williams said Questia's layoffs are_not a result_of the company growing too 
large_too_fast. 
"It took_that_many_people to_launch the service,"_Williams_said. "But_since_
we're not digitizing books that quickly,_we_just don't need that many." 
Questia was_started in 1998 by_Williams_with the backing of_investors such as 
Compaq Computer_Corp. co-founder Rod Canion and Enron_Chairman Ken_Lay. 
The_company raised more than $135 million over the past two years_to build an 
online searching and_note-taking interface and so_far has_purchased_the 
rights to_digitize_more than_60,000 books. The company charges students about_
$20 per_month for unlimited access and pays_publishers based on the_number_of 
page views their books get_from students. 
The site went live_in early January but had_trouble_attracting_the number of 
subscribers the_company originally hoped for. 
In early_April, following an_intense television ad blitz during the National_
Collegiate_Athletic Association's men's basketball tournament, the_company_
had slightly more than of 1,000_paying_subscribers,_sources close to the 
company_say. 
Company officials always said building_the subscriber base would be an 
expensive long-term project._
Several adjustments in_strategy over the 14 weeks_since_the_service launched 
indicate the original plans weren't panning out. 
On-campus_membership