Another great DBW digital publishing conference is behind us, and once again the future looks good for books. Digital books, print books, subscribed books, enhanced books...the industry, the authors, and the consumers are on fire for them, regardless of the format they choose to work in. The buzzwords this year were direct-to-consumer book sales, ebook subscriptions, and … [Read more...] about DBW Buzzwords, Interview with Tim O’Reilly
ebook lending
OverDrive Announces Banner Year for School, Library eBook Lending
As digital library lending continues to take root in public and school libraries, digital content solutions provider OverDrive has seen tremendous forward growth in the number of patron checkouts through libraries. Whereas it took the platform ten years to reach 100 million total checkouts, that number grew to 102 million checkouts in 2013 alone. This represents a 44% increase … [Read more...] about OverDrive Announces Banner Year for School, Library eBook Lending
Scribd, Smashwords Partner to Put Indie Authors’ Work in Subscription Service
This might be a biased statement given the amount of news that crosses the Good e-Reader desk concerning ebook distribution and self-publishing platform Smashwords, but it's a pretty safe bet that Smashwords has done more to further the cause of self-publishing than any other platform available to authors. Certainly companies like Amazon, Barnes and Noble's Nook Press, and … [Read more...] about Scribd, Smashwords Partner to Put Indie Authors’ Work in Subscription Service
Strong News About Library Use by Pew Internet
One of the really interesting dynamics about public libraries is that, even as patronage appears to be dropping, more and more Americans claim that libraries are vital to the health of a community. Data from a new survey by the Pew Research Center's Internet Project polled over six thousand Americans about their library use, as well as their attitudes about the need for … [Read more...] about Strong News About Library Use by Pew Internet
McGraw Hill Teams Up with OverDrive to Offer Catalog of Professional Titles
OverDrive, the world's largest provider of digital content to academic and public libraries, announced a new partnership today that will increase its catalog of offered titles, specifically in key areas of business, science, and research. McGraw-Hill Professional, a widely respected provider of content and services for the medical, technical, and business communities, is making … [Read more...] about McGraw Hill Teams Up with OverDrive to Offer Catalog of Professional Titles
OverDrive Offers Digital Kids’ Reading Rooms to Partner Libraries
Throughout the recent controversy over inappropriate and explicit content being listed in ebook retail websites alongside children's and middle grade titles, the same questions kept coming to the surface: how did this happen, and how do we prevent it? Unfortunately for the authors and publishers of much of the questionable content, the immediate solution was to block nearly all … [Read more...] about OverDrive Offers Digital Kids’ Reading Rooms to Partner Libraries
Outlook Grim for Public Libraries
As if public libraries have ever had the problem of having too much money, news from the Speak Up for Libraries conference painted a dark picture of what the coming year may bring, at least for UK libraries. Concerns of budget cuts from public funding sources, worries over offering a full selection of new and updated titles within the libraries' means, and fears about losing … [Read more...] about Outlook Grim for Public Libraries
OverDrive: Schools Are Going Digital Faster Than Ever
According to new data from digital content distributor OverDrive, schools are adopting digital books and textbooks at a faster than ever rate. This data, compiled in part from its 6,500 public school library partners, shows that more students than ever before are using smartphones, tablets, and ereaders in the academic environment, with a 252% increase in October in school … [Read more...] about OverDrive: Schools Are Going Digital Faster Than Ever
OverDrive Media Station Now Widely Available
Launched in fifty libraries at the beginning of this year as part of a pilot program, OverDrive's Media Station allows library patrons to employ the in-library ebook, audiobook, music and video sampling and checkout terminal. Today, the world's largest distributor of digital content to academic and public libraries announced the Media Stations are widely available to their … [Read more...] about OverDrive Media Station Now Widely Available
OverDrive Releases Update to School Digital Library Interface
OverDrive, one of the world's largest digital content and media suppliers to academic and public libraries, has rolled out a new update to its web interface that will make searching for content even more streamlined. The first enhancement helps ensure that users who access the interface via computer, tablet, or smartphone will see a very similar storefront, helping make … [Read more...] about OverDrive Releases Update to School Digital Library Interface