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IDG News Service - As more people turn to e-readers, which are particularly handy for travel, a variety of screen guards and cases have hit the market, as have accessories such as clip-on lights and decorative decals. We looked at a variety of them this month.

1. Protect the screen

Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook use electronic paper technology developed by E Ink that reduces glare, so that the text looks more like a printed book. Apple's iPad has a touch-screen LCD display that is better for other iPad functions like gaming and video, but could have a higher level of glare. So when buying screen protectors, look at anti-glare protection and scratch resistance, depending on the kind of screen you have.

I've always liked Boxwave's ClearTouch screen protectors, and now the company is offering screen guards for all major brands of e-book readers on its Web site for between $10 and $30. You may be able to find cheaper screen guards on sites like Amazon, with prices ranging from under $1 to around $10. But not all screen protectors are good, so make sure you read product reviews.

2. Protect the device

If an e-book reader breaks, you could lose all of the content that is stored on it. So, a protective case of some sort is highly recommended.

M-Edge has plastered New York City subways with ads skillfully describing what its e-book accessories can do. One such ad depicts Amazon's Kindle submerged in water with a plastic hard cover to protect it. The product, called the Guardian Case, has a watertight seal that protects the Kindle up to 1 meter deep underwater. The case covers the Kindle and comes with sealed-off navigation buttons and a keyboard, which allows users to read e-books underwater without losing functionality. The price wasn't available and the product will become available in spring 2010, the company says on its Web site.

The M-Edge store also has a number of other cases made from materials such as leather and neoprene that provide different levels of protection for devices like the iPad, Nook and Sony's eReader. Boxwave also provides cases for the Kindle, while cases for Nook can be found on its accessories Web site.

3. Accessorize

One essential add-on, especially if you are reading an e-book before going to sleep, is a light that can be clipped on to the reader. Barnes & Noble will soon offer the yet-unpriced Lyra Light for Nook. Boxwave is offering a $9.95 clip-on light for Kindle. For the multiple types of Sony eReader, M-Edge offers the $24.95 e-Luminator2 Booklight, which clips on to the back with the light popping out of the top.