A new report, issued today by global publishing adviser Ixxus, aims to help academic publishers organize their move to a more digitally focused landscape. The sixteen-page whitepaper, called "Thinking Outside the Books: Reinventing Educational Publishing for the Digital Age" and accessible HERE, stems from ongoing relationships with some of the largest names in academic … [Read more...] about New Whitepaper Advises Academic Publishers to Think Outside the Book
Digital Library News
Recorded Books and Zinio Double Down on Libraries
Recorded Books started out in 1979, heavily investing themselves into the library space. They currently have a catalog of 13,500 audiobook titles that they market to libraries and retail customers. They also own a UK audiobook company which helps contribute further assets. Recently, the company was sold to Wasserstein & Co to help with the cash flow. Really, what this mean for … [Read more...] about Recorded Books and Zinio Double Down on Libraries
Reimagining the Personal Library
With so much focus on the plight of libraries, a number of options have been proposed for libraries to reinvent themselves in an effort to keep up with the changing face of book consumption in the digital era. Some library systems have gone so far as to establish 21st century models for libraries, including everything from computer terminals, classroom and meeting spaces, green … [Read more...] about Reimagining the Personal Library
Talking Book and Braille Center Offering Free Home Delivery of Reading Material
The South Brunswick Public Library (SBPL) has teamed up with the New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center (TBBC) to offer free home delivery of reading materials to the residents of South Brunswick, New Jersey. The services include audio books and magazines, audiobook players, and Braille books. In addition, patrons also have the option to download audiobooks … [Read more...] about Talking Book and Braille Center Offering Free Home Delivery of Reading Material
Can Digitization Go Too Far?
A massive digitization project involving the cooperation of two governments and the crusading efforts by several individual stakeholders led to the donation of the Hemingway Collection to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in 2008. This donation included digitized editions of papers that had been stored in the basement of Hemingway's farm house in Cuba, papers that even … [Read more...] about Can Digitization Go Too Far?
Libraries Fight Back Against Planned Closings
With libraries around the world coming under almost as much threat of demise as brick-and-mortar bookstores, one UK library system is taking legal action to fight back against proposed budget cuts in their county that will mean the planned closing of a number of local public libraries.According to an article in The Bookseller, the library system in Lincolnshire has mounted … [Read more...] about Libraries Fight Back Against Planned Closings
Librarians Demand More Notice for Overdrive Big Library Read
Overdrive Read is an innovative program that sees a single eBook become available for libraries to loan out an infinite amount of times. This is a stark contrast to the normal practice to the one title, one loan mentality. Obviously there is some very compelling aspects of the Reader program, but librarians are beginning to feel ambushed to the short notice of titles becoming … [Read more...] about Librarians Demand More Notice for Overdrive Big Library Read
Kotobi, First Arab eBookstore, Launches at Cairo Book Fair
With the Cairo Book Fair wrapping up this week--amidst controversy, as journalists were arrested for possessing cameras and video equipment to cover the event--one exciting launch took place with critical support from Vodafone Egypt. The first dedicated Arab ebookstore, Kotobi.com, launched from their stage at the fair, bringing several hundred Arab titles from nearly forty … [Read more...] about Kotobi, First Arab eBookstore, Launches at Cairo Book Fair
Call for Endowment Seeks to Ease the Suffering of Libraries
It comes as new real surprise to anyone that libraries need all the help they can get. With news of severe financial cutbacks around the country that have resulted in the layoffs of library personnel, the dramatic slashing of hours of operation, and even the outright closings of numerous branches, public libraries are facing a monumental identity and ability crisis.But … [Read more...] about Call for Endowment Seeks to Ease the Suffering of Libraries
HarperCollins Titles Available in the UK via Overdrive
Libraries in the United Kingdom now have access to HarperCollins titles via Overdrive. Starting today, eBooks and audiobooks will both be available for libraries to purchase and loan out to people who have e-readers, tablets or smartphones.The terms for the titles are the same as they are for their US titles: each copy purchased may check out 26 times before its license … [Read more...] about HarperCollins Titles Available in the UK via Overdrive
Cengage Learning Reaches Agreement in Bankruptcy Proceedings
Digital publishing for the academic arena has a lot of support, mostly for materials aimed at the higher education market. The much-needed access to up-to-date and relevant content, coupled with the typically lower cost of digital textbooks and learning software, has made companies like Cengage a growing force in publishing.But as of last summer, Cengage (creators of … [Read more...] about Cengage Learning Reaches Agreement in Bankruptcy Proceedings
Access to Research Initiative Makes Journal Research Free to Public
A new move towards broader open access has made over one and a half million journal articles free for public use through UK libraries. In a pilot program called Access to Research that is partly being powered free of cost by ProQuest's search capabilities, the public can now access these articles and conference presentations through their libraries.According to a press … [Read more...] about Access to Research Initiative Makes Journal Research Free to Public
Rare Malayalam Books Added to Wikimedia Free Library, Wikigrandasala
Some of the rarest of Malayalam literary works has transcended the physical barrier and have started a new life in the digital era, all thanks to the active participation of more than 200 Wikimedia users from around the globe. This has been part of a digitization contest organized by Malayalam Wikimedia to celebrate a decade of Wikisource. Â This has led to the successful … [Read more...] about Rare Malayalam Books Added to Wikimedia Free Library, Wikigrandasala