This year's Digital Book World conference has been filled with industry attention on a number of topics. Children's content has received a lot of the focus, as has the current wider adoption of the ePub3 standard. New terms have even been coined, with the recognition of the "hybrid" author as a driving force in the publishing industry. One of the areas that hasn't received … [Read more...] about OverDrive CEO Steve Potash on Where ePub Is Taking Publishing
ebook lending
2012 Record Year for eBook Borrowing
Despite the interview yesterday with Bilbary's Tim Coates on what libraries in the UK must do in order to keep their doors open, US libraries continue to adapt to a business model that helps libraries be more than just a location to pick up dusty books. In order to meet the growing needs of a more technologically-minded culture, libraries are stepping forward and offering their … [Read more...] about 2012 Record Year for eBook Borrowing
Bilbary Founder Time Coates on What Libraries Need
The current climate of digital publishing and its impact on public libraries is a hotly contested topic right now, leading even to jabs and jeers from both sides of the issue. Tim Coates, founder of ebookstore and rental platform Bilbary and former CEO of UK retail chain Waterstones, spoke with GoodeReader about an article he wrote entitled, "The Ideal Library." While Coates … [Read more...] about Bilbary Founder Time Coates on What Libraries Need
Record Library Traffic on Christmas, Thanks to eBook Lending
A number of consumers--both surprised and not-so-surprised--opened tablets or dedicated e-readers yesterday, and a large percentage of those customers went to work straight away with testing out the capabilities of ebook lending from their local public libraries. OverDrive released a statement today that demonstrated that some public library systems saw record circulation … [Read more...] about Record Library Traffic on Christmas, Thanks to eBook Lending
Has Amazon Prime Killed eBook Lending Clubs?
Barnes and Noble and Amazon during the last few years developed eBook lending programs that authors and publishers can opt into. This system allowed ebooks to be flagged lending enabled and select books could be loaned out to a friend and family member for up to two weeks, only once. Many people find that they don't have the same taste as their friends or are the only one in … [Read more...] about Has Amazon Prime Killed eBook Lending Clubs?
3M, Polaris Integrate at the Baltimore Public Library
While the struggle for a satisfactory condition continues in the world of ebook lending for public libraries, some companies are still managing to make progress with digital catalogs. Today, 3M Cloud Library System and Polaris Library System announced that the two companies are fully integrated in the Baltimore County Public Library. This integration means library patrons have … [Read more...] about 3M, Polaris Integrate at the Baltimore Public Library
ebrary Reaching Out into Foreign-Language Markets
ebrary, a ProQuest company, announced today that it is expanding its reach into non-English speaking markets, specifically the Nordic regions, in order to bring ebook content to those areas that could currently be considered not worth it by most major ebook retailers and distributors. Specifically in reaching out to Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, ebrary is … [Read more...] about ebrary Reaching Out into Foreign-Language Markets
UK Libraries to Run on Volunteer Support
In an article for The Bookseller, Joshua Farrington reported on a recent gathering of library decision makers over the amount of volunteer and community support for public libraries in the UK. This meeting, coming on the heels of the news that around 200 libraries closed last year, was to discuss the research and campaigning for more library support. While the discussions … [Read more...] about UK Libraries to Run on Volunteer Support
Bilbary Launches eBook Rentals
Digital bookseller Bilbary launched last year with an ebook sales platform, making over 800,000 titles available for sale to customers across the UK and other markets. Now, Bilbary has announced that its ebook rental service will hopefully launch before the end of the year. Unlike rental platforms that tried with limited success to create a Netflix-like subscription based … [Read more...] about Bilbary Launches eBook Rentals
Minnesota Libraries’ Latest Patrons to Benefit from 3M
Three public library systems in Minnesota, overseeing a total of twenty-five individual libraries, became the most recent of the eighty library systems across the country to benefit from 3M Cloud Library eBook Lending Service’s help in utilizing ebook lending for their patrons. Library representatives have been quoted as pointing to the quality of titles, the ease of search … [Read more...] about Minnesota Libraries’ Latest Patrons to Benefit from 3M