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What Publishers Are Doing To Help During Covid-19

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The pandemic of Covid-19 is disrupting the entire bookselling industry. Major publishers are doing their part in offering a ton of programs and initiatives to help readers, bookstores, schools and libraries. Here is a huge list of all of publishers doing their part.

Cambridge University Press

  • Cambridge University Press’ COVID-19 response page
  • Cambridge is offering free, online access to higher education textbooks and coronavirus research during the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, existing customers are being offered free access to key reference works on request to help them overcome the disruption caused by the global response to the pandemic.
  • All 700 textbooks published and currently available in HTML format on Cambridge Core are available regardless of whether textbooks were previously purchased. Free access is available until the end of May 2020 and a full list of HTML textbooks published on the platform can be found here.
  • Students in the United States will also be able to access free e-book versions of Press textbooks through VitalSource.
  • In addition, existing Cambridge Core customers can request free access to a collection of reference works for libraries during the same period, including all the Cambridge Histories, Cambridge Companions, and Cambridge Elements. Existing customers should contact their regular library sales representative to make a request.

Cengage

  • Cengage Learning’s COVID-19 response page
  • For U.S. colleges impacted by COVID-19, Cengage is offering students free access to all its digital platforms and eBooks through Cengage Unlimited for the remainder of the spring semester.
  • Cengage is offering webinars for those interested in learning how our digital platforms can be used to deliver online courses. Their Faculty Partners will also be holding free “Office Hours” to provide peer-to-peer advice to any faculty who are moving to Cengage courseware and/or need help understanding the free Cengage Unlimited access their students now have.
  • National Geographic Learning(a Cengage company) is providing all U.S. K-12 teachers with free access to Cengage’s learning platforms and eBooks. Cengage is extending access for current digital users and providing training and support for educators transitioning to online teaching. Educators looking for more information can visit here.
  • Gale, a Cengage company, is offering resources to support libraries and educators here.

Macmillan Learning

  • Macmillan Learning’s COVID-19 response page
  • College instructors who have adopted print titles receive FREE access to Macmillan Learning’s online platforms (LaunchPad, Sapling, FlipIt) to get them through the rest of the term.
  • College instructors have access to a series of trainings on using and implementing online tools led by Macmillan Learning specialists and faculty partners.
  • Macmillan Learning has made access available to iClicker Reef, their student mobile app, at no cost for the rest of the academic term. Reef can be used via smartphone, tablet, or laptop and it gives instructors the ability to administer polls, quizzes, and track attendance just as they would in regular class sessions.
  • For AP High School instructors, Macmillan Learning is offering free access to digital ebooks (online and offline) to cover the likely duration of school closure.
  • For AP High School adopters of online learning platforms (LaunchPad or SaplingPlus), Macmillan will provide immediate training and support to enable teachers to quickly set up courses, create assignments, etc. with our customer experience team.

McGraw-Hill

  • McGraw-Hill’s K-12 COVID-19 response page
  • McGraw-Hill is providing free access, training, and support for the McGraw-Hill Connect and ALEKS digital learning platforms to instructors and students who need to urgently move to an online format for their Spring 2020 courses. Faculty can learn how to set up their course online here.
  • McGraw-Hill recognizes that transitioning to remote learning situations for K-12 schools can be complicated as well. Remote learning support for K-12 schools, educators, and parents can be found here. Product walkthroughs, free resources, and videos will be added over the coming days.
  • McGraw-Hill Professional customers who need support transitioning to digital platforms can get assistance through these links to access medical, engineering, and science
  • McGraw-Hill provides support outside of the U.S., where many teams in affected countries have been working hard to support schools and colleges for weeks

W.W. Norton

  • W. Norton’s COVID-19 response page
  • W. Norton is focused on getting instructors up and running (meeting them where they are and informing them of their resources, offering webinars, etc.), informing book-only adopters about adaptive/engaging tools like InQuizitive and how they can help keep students engaged during this period and of course, offering an unparalleled level of support.
  • In collaboration with some faculty advocates using W.W. Norton books and resources, W.W. Norton is also hosting numerous discipline-specific webinars to help instructors in their transition to online teaching.

Oxford University Press

  • Oxford University Press’ COVID-19 response page
  • Epigeum, part of Oxford University Press, has made its courses on Teaching Onlineand Blended Learning freely available until the end of May in order to help those tackling distance learning for the first time. For more information, please visit here.

Pearson

  • Pearson’s COVID-19 response page
  • Pearson Uses Global Reach to Provide Learning Tools, Expertise for those Affected by Pandemic
  • For US K-12 Parents, Teachers and Schools:
  • Providing free online courseware, teaching platform and training for 100,000 students, for state-level partners of Connections Academy
  • Sharing online learning expertise from Connections Academy through live webinars and digital learning to help K-12 parents and teachers make the most of online learning at home. This includes an email “hotline” staffed by expert Connections educators who can offer fast advice for teachers in need of instructional support.
  • Due to an increased enrollment demand, Connections Academy, the full-time online schools supported by Pearson, has reopened enrollment in many schools for the ’19-’20 academic year. All schools are accepting students for the ’20-’21 school year.
  • For US, UK and Canada Higher Education Students and Educators:
  • Accelerating the launch of the new Pearson Advance program, which offers a catalog of short, online courses from leading experts and universities. Students needing to upskill and reskill quickly can earn credentials and “micro” Masters degrees, from many of the world’s most renowned institutions in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost.
  • Providing access to Pearson’s e-book library for the rest of the term at no additional cost for higher ed students in the US, UK and Canada who are already using Pearson courseware.
  • Providing free access to the Aida Calculus app until June.
  • Providing free on-demand webinars, office hours with Pearson digital learning experts and tip sheets for higher education faculty who need help transitioning to online courses.
  • Providing course discounts for Pearson’s Unbound, which offers pathways to high quality degree programs at lower costs. Unbound offers advice and academic guidance to help students match their existing learning to credits that enable transfer to their target school and provides online courses with transfer credit at affordable prices.
  • For Adult Professionals:
  • Even with the required closing of many Pearson VUE testing centers, we are evaluating local regulations around re-opening sites to address testing services for critical workers, such as health care personnel.

Scholastic

Wiley

  • Wiley’s COVID-19 response page
  • Wiley is aiming to ensure instructors who need to teach remotely have the necessary tools to help their students.
  • Wiley has given instructors without an adopted online learning solution, such as WileyPLUS, Knewton Alta or zyBooks, free access for their students for the remainder of the Spring 2020 term. Instructors teaching at impacted institutions can request access to WileyPLUS or Knewton Altahere; instructors looking for zyBooks access can apply here. For current WileyPLUS and Knewton Alta instructors, Customer Success Specialists are equipped to provide additional support, including extension of due dates, adjusting assignments or increasing the capacity to work
  • Wiley Education Servicesis offering expanded partner support, which includes providing additional technology licenses and assistance with course production and associated LMS support. Advancement Courses is providing a free micro-course (Launching Online Learning) for K-12 educators to quickly ramp-up online learning in their environment. And to make the adaptation to online learning as easy as possible, Wiley is providing free resources and webinars for all instructors.

VitalSource

  • VitalSource’s COVID-19 response page
  • To assist students at disrupted semester-calendar schools who are losing access to course materials due to COVID-19 campus closures, educational technology solutions provider VitalSource has partnered with leading publishers to offer free access to ebooks to students whose classes have moved online through May 25, 2020. Students will be able to access the expansive catalog of eBooks from participating publishers through the VitalSource Bookshelf app effective immediately.

RedShelf

  • RedShelf’s COVID-19 response page
  • Under the label of ‘RedShelf Responds’, education technology company RedShelf is collaborating with its publishing partners to offer free access to eBooks for the remainder of the semester for currently enrolled students impacted by recent campus closings. Semester-calendar schools of authorized programs will be allowed free access to eBooks through May 25, 2020.

HarperCollins Publishers

  • HarperCollins Children’s Books Launches Harper at Home
  • During this unprecedented time, while children and parents are at home and we’re all practicing social distancing, HarperCollins brings books and authors to kids of all ages through Harper at Home online initiatives.
  • Harper Kids: Join the HarperKids team each day at 12PM (EDT) for story times and read-alouds, activities, fun content, and pure entertainment! Follow HarperKids on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
  • Shelf Stuff: Shelf Stuff is here to help with the Shelf Stuff at Home video series, perfect for kids ages 7-12. On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2pm, Shelf Stuff shares fun and engaging content via their YouTube Kids channel starring favorite authors and members of Team Shelf Stuff! Follow Shelf Stuff on Instagramand YouTube
  • Epic Reads: While we practice social distancing IRL, the Epic Reads team is live with all types of book recs, chats, games, and more. Tune in every Wednesday on Twitter and every Friday on Instagram at 4pm EDT for tons of virtual Epic Reads content Follow Epic Reads on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
  • Harper Stacks: Library programming and classroom learning are going to look very different for the near future. Every Monday at 3pm EDT, HarperStacks post videos and other resources for teachers, librarians, and parents to keep kids learning while keeping it fun! Follow HarperStacks on Facebookand Twitter.
  • Remember Reading?: Tune into Remember Reading, a family podcast about classic children’s books and the impact they have on us long into adulthood. Each episode features one popular children’s book from the past, uncovering the unique story behind the story. While sitting down with famous, award-winning authors, Remember Reading? investigates the timeless themes in kids’ books. Subscribe and start listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or SoundCloud.
  • HarperCollins Children’s Books Outlines Online Reading Policy
  • HarperCollins Children’s Books has extended permission to authors, educators and librarians to read HarperCollins Children’s Books titles online, on video, through the end of the school year. This is to support schools and public libraries forced to close by the escalating COVID-19 outbreak.
  • University Access for Adult Trade Books
  • University professors who want to make ebooks available to students who can’t access their physical books can receive free ebook copies. Books will be distributed by a HarperCollins higher ed ebook distributor. Access to the free ebooks will expire May 25, 2020.
  • The professor or university should send an email with the title, author, edition, class size, and distributor to Academic@harpercollins.com
  • HarperCollins will authorize delivery of the codes to the professor for delivery to the student.
  • If your university isn’t set up with one of HarperCollins’ higher ed ebook distributors, then HarperCollins will fulfill directly.

Penguin Random House

Scholastic Inc.

 

Simon & Schuster

 

Editor-in-chief | michael@goodereader.com | Website | + posts

Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

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