Follett Digital Resources’ New K-12 eBook Reader Now Available
Free Proprietary Software Now Ready for DownloadMcHenry, Ill., February 9, 2009 – Follett Digital Resources, the premier provider of digital solutions to help publishers and educators meet the needs of 21st century learners, today announced the availability of its new digital reader for downloading and installation. The Follett Digital Reader is software that introduces additional functionality for eBooks, and meets the specific needs of K-12 and public libraries. This format change places no additional cost on Follett’s publishing partners. In fact, Follett will continue to accept the file formats publishers have previously sent.
Beginning today, customers can visit www.follettebooks.com/readersupport to download and install the new digital reader on all computers on their networks that are able to access eBook content from Follett. On March 2, existing eBook collections will be switched to the new format. The new Follett Digital Reader will replace the Adobe .pdf technology that K-12 library customers previously used to download and read a Follett eBook. The online viewer for Follett eBooks is not affected by this transition in any way.
Steve Siegel, Follett Vice President of eContent Markets, said the new eBook reader was developed out of a desire to provide a more enjoyable eBook experience for K-12 and public library patrons, and to ensure Follett has the flexibility to offer other customer-demanded solutions in the future without relying on 3rd party technology partners.
“The new format allows us to maintain a very high level of integrity with regard to pictures, graphics, and color – which is particularly useful for picture books,” Siegel said. “This is what our library customers were telling us they needed. And we’ve made sure that we will have the flexibility to adapt our eBook delivery platform to the future demands of publishers as well.”
Follett Digital Resources has made the reader available for beta testing by select K-12 educators in the U.S. and Canada, and the initial reaction has been quite favorable.
“It has a simple, yet extremely functional user interface. Readers are able to easily navigate throughout the book, make notes, and set bookmarks,” said Robert Godel of Southgate Middle School in Campbell River, British Columbia. “It is very easy for library patrons to install the software on their home computers. As digital content becomes more prevalent, Follett Digital Reader sets a high standard as a user-friendly, functional digital reader.”
“Technology is playing an ever-increasing role in the lives of today’s students, and it’s important for us to be out in front of ’the digital age’,” said Bill Rampey, Follett Vice President of eContent Technologies. “We understand the challenge of distributing and using eBooks. It should be as easy as distributing or using a traditional book within the library system, so we’ve built an eBook reader that functions the way a publisher needs it to work for the K-12 and public library markets.”
Rampey said the new Follett Digital Reader energizes the learning experience of 21st century students, both in and out of the library, with the following capabilities:
• A selection of eBook Library views (thumbnails and cover flow) for browsing your downloaded eBook collection
• Two different page views (single and facing)
• Search tools, including “find text” and “find next” functionality
• Publisher pre-defined copy/paste and print capabilities
• Zoom in/out function to customize your views (by percentage, fit to page, height and width)
• Pre-defined bookmarks to jump to relevant content when set by the publisher
• Note-taking tools with highlighting
To find out more about customer and technical requirements for the new Follett Digital Reader, please visit: www.follettebooks.com/readersupport.
About Follett Digital Resources
As part of Follett Corporation and benefiting from more than 135 years of industry innovations and leadership, Follett Digital Resources provides software, services and experience to help publishers and educators meet the unique needs of 21st century learners. Drawing on deep expertise in the educational publishing and distribution fields, Follett Digital Resources delivers a single source for digital solutions that not only incorporates the most advanced technology available but is also exclusively focused on improving the learning process. Learn more at www.follettdigital.com.
