One surefire way to get kids reading--especially low-ability and reluctant readers--is to give them characters and story lines that they already know and love. By having access to high interest characters from television shows and movies, as well as incorporating existing story lines for which the readers already have a strong from of reference, students who struggle to read or … [Read more...] about DreamWorks Animation to Hold Its Own Children’s eBook Imprint
Digital Publishing News
Canada Institutes Its Own eBook Terms with Publishers
Following the court drama of the Department of Justice investigation of five of the Big Six publishers, attorneys then lined up to file their own class action lawsuits on behalf of consumers who overpaid by millions of dollars for ebooks as a result of a conspiracy to arrange the prices on titles. While the battle is still not fully finalized in the US in terms of how much … [Read more...] about Canada Institutes Its Own eBook Terms with Publishers
Apple to Begin Requiring “Interest Age” Label on Children’s, Teens’ eBooks
Apple announced that it will begin requiring a new level of keyword protection on children's, teens', and educational titles in the iBookstore beginning in June of this year. The term "interest age" will now have to be stated and labeled on titles from publishers and self-published authors alike. This requirement of an interest age rating may have stemmed from the recent … [Read more...] about Apple to Begin Requiring “Interest Age” Label on Children’s, Teens’ eBooks
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
Updates at Readmill Provide Genuinely Social Reading
The concept of social reading has been kicked around by various companies over the last few years, but no platform has really had the Facebook-like explosion of fans connecting through a book. That has largely been due to the need to leave the book in order to discover who else is reading it from the user's own circle of friends. Think of it this way, as you sit and read … [Read more...] about Updates at Readmill Provide Genuinely Social Reading
Amazon Boycott May Have Resulted in Drop in UK Sales
Amazon UK posted a significant reduction year-over-year in its sales figures, demonstrating a clear lag in growth. While still highly profitable and certainly not a cause for concern at the Seattle-based company's headquarters, there is speculation as to what may be behind the slower than normal increase in customer spending. Two factors that made global headlines led to a … [Read more...] about Amazon Boycott May Have Resulted in Drop in UK Sales
Simon & Schuster Unveils New Book Industry Site 250 Words
One of the most crucial changes that savvy publishers are making stems from the understanding that readers do not want to be disconnected from authors and books. The days of discovering book simply by walking past the sought after front window display are over; now, authors want early access to new titles, insider information on what's coming next, and a much more personal … [Read more...] about Simon & Schuster Unveils New Book Industry Site 250 Words
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
What Could Rowling Do With Harry and Hermione?
JK Rowling is no stranger to opening herself up and letting her fans see the inner workings of the mind that created the world of Harry Potter. From the publication of her notebook that she kept during the series' writing process to the ill-timed but important announcement that she'd always envisioned Professor Dumbledore as having been homosexual, Rowling has invited her … [Read more...] about What Could Rowling Do With Harry and Hermione?
Amazon Removes Self-Published Title Due to Offensive Content, Internet Reaction
Following the backlash from both sides of the publishing industry last fall over the removal of so-called "offensive" content from ebook retail websites, booksellers have become more cautious about the titles they let slip through. Authors of erotica titles that were summarily removed without warning were obviously outraged, but consumers were equally upset by explicit content … [Read more...] about Amazon Removes Self-Published Title Due to Offensive Content, Internet Reaction