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Tag Archives: ebooks
E-book Usage in K-12's is Rising
The data is in! Download School Library Journal’s 4th annual survey of eBook Usage in U.S. K-12 Libraries. Usage of eBooks in school libraries, especially at the high school level, is expected to continue to rise incrementally.
The survey extrapolates that an estimated $73 million was spent on eBooks in U.S. schools is 2012-2013. And since last years survey, the percentage of LMC’s materials budgets spent on eBooks has nearly doubled, with that percentage expected to more than triple by 2018.
Download at 2013 Survey of Ebook Usage in U.S. School (K–12) Libraries.
Oyster: The Netflix of eBooks?
Have you heard of Oyster? It is an online service which touts “unlimited eBooks for just $9.95 a month.” Oyster, has a colorful, appealing interface, but I am not sold on the collection at this point. At this time, it includes 800 publishers and includes 100,000 books, some of which are already in the free public domain from other sites. It also currently runs only on iOS 7 devices (iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch).
Sounds and feels a bit like a Netflix experience, like streaming, although in fact the files are downloadable EPUBs, with DRM. Does Oyster pose a threat to libraries? Oyster’s biggest current drawback (IMHO) is the lack of very current materials; they don’t focus on new or “front list” titles (they shoot for a 90-day embargo). It is also unclear to me about the richness of the rest of the collection, but take a look, they are offering a free 30 day trial. Share your experience in the comments field. Read a blog post from ALA at Are there pearls in this Oyster?
AL: E-Content, Jan. 20
100 Sites for Free E-Books
Ready, set, go….everyone loves a free download!
I must admit I post this one with a little trepidation. I certainly cannot be sure each of these sites is indeed legal, although the title of the site says so, but I certainly recognize many of them that are. But then I remembered my reading audience….staff in Central MN libraries, people who care about detail, about copyright, and the rights of authors! Organized into fourteen categories (not arranged alphabetically) but including everything from the classics to plays to rare books to textbooks. Certainly a treasure trove for book hounds….share your favorite finds (or concerns) in the comments field please! Oh, the link…..go to http://tinyurl.com/qzkws3l
New PEW Report on E-Reading
According to an overview of the E-Reading Rises as Device Ownership Jumps report from Pew Internet on January 16th…
The proportion of Americans who read e-books is growing, but few have completely replaced print books for electronic versions.
The percentage of adults who read an e-book in the past year has risen to 28%, up from 23% at the end of 2012. At the same time, about seven in ten Americans reported reading a book in print, up four percentage points after a slight dip in 2012, and 14% of adults listened to an audiobook.
Though e-books are rising in popularity, print remains the foundation of Americans’ reading habits. Most people who read e-books also read print books, and just 4% of readers are “e-book only.” Audiobook listeners have the most diverse reading habits overall, while fewer print readers consume books in other formats.
Explore survey questions, read or download the full PEW report (free) at http://tinyurl.com/mxzt5w2