An update on our eBook project in The Digital Shift:
http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/06/ebooks/califa-lands-325000-in-funding-for-ebook-ownership-project-deal-close-with-smashwords/
Also not in the article is the fact that we're having a Naming Contest for the service. Submit a great name, and if we choose yours, you will win an iPad! We want something that conveys:
- this is a project from libraries, for libraries; a membership cooperative project.
- this is a service that is a step towards a solution. It will continue to evolve as we need it to. But it's something that lets us focus our energy, and stop just sitting around feeling helpless.
- it will be innovative, experimental, and we will learn as we go along.
- it is collaborative.
- it's FUN!
If you have a name that you think reflects all of that, email it to me with the subject "eBook Name" and we will let our members choose the best from the top ones we receive (of course we'll have to work to ensure that it's available, doesn't violate copyright, etc). The deadline for entry is July 31.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
3M Cloud Library Goes Live in Pasadena
I was at the Pasadena public library this morning for the official launch of the 3M Cloud Library. I've been using the Cloud Library for about a month now, and I'm really excited by it! It's so great to see a service designed for library users that is actually just as easy to use as a kindle.
Below is a youtube video showing how to browse and check out books. The first difference a patron will notice when they log on to the 3M Cloud Library is that they need to log in with their barcode and pin. With OverDrive, you can go in and browse the catalog, and you don't put your authentication details in until the end (kind of like going into a store - you browse and then check out when you're ready to leave). I'm not sure of the technology behind it all and whether one way is better than the other, but I do know that this way is much easier, especially on a tablet or smart phone. You put in your details once, and then you're done.
Then you find content that you want. 3M has signed with lots of major publishers (3M just announced that they've cut a deal with Penguin, who pulled out of their OverDrive contract earlier this year) but they're also working with independents like Smashwords.
Once you find content, you simply click "check out" and then go on over to your My Books area (which displays your checked out books as well as lists the titles you have on hold). The book downloads to your account. And because it's all stored in the cloud, it syncs across devices. I wasn't sure what would happen when I was away from an internet connection, given that it seems to rely heavily on being connected, but I can happily report that I read a book on the flight to NYC last week, and everything worked just fine. You can also check books in really easily by tapping on the "info" icon. The "info" area also tells you how many more days you have left on your checkout, and shows your bookmarks.
A couple of things that annoy me:
1) the bookmarking function isn't the greatest. You don't seem to be able to just place a bookmark without writing a note about that bookmark. I'm thinking that the reason they made it this way is because in a perfect world your reading spot would save, and sync across your devices. In practice it doesn't always work out that way. My tablet sensitivity is high (I know I can change it, but I haven't). So sometimes I'll go from being 20% of the way through a book to 70%, just with one accidental finger swipe. Getting back to the place I was is a giant hassle then (anyone who's ever tried to "thumb" through an ebook will understand why). So I solved the problem by placing bookmarks every few pages, just in case I unexpectedly wind up losing my place. It would be nice to do that without having to write a description each time.
2) You can't use it on a kindle (though I supposed you could on a kindle fire, if you had the app) .
3) The holds list seems wonky. I've had Walking the Bible on hold for 3 weeks. Every day it tells me that it will be available in less than a day. I don't know whether they're using days measured on Jupiter, or what, but it's definitely held steady at "less than a day" like that for at least 10 Earth Days.
And really, that's just about it.
As online storage gets cheaper, it seems as if more and more programs and services will be stored online, and 3M is definitely leading the way. The nice thing about them is that they are still willing to work with independent projects (like Douglas County) and I spoke with them about possibly integrating somehow into our own project. They have written ownership clauses into the contracts as well.
I'm glad to see such an awesome project becoming successful. The library world needs more competition like this!
Then you find content that you want. 3M has signed with lots of major publishers (3M just announced that they've cut a deal with Penguin, who pulled out of their OverDrive contract earlier this year) but they're also working with independents like Smashwords.
Once you find content, you simply click "check out" and then go on over to your My Books area (which displays your checked out books as well as lists the titles you have on hold). The book downloads to your account. And because it's all stored in the cloud, it syncs across devices. I wasn't sure what would happen when I was away from an internet connection, given that it seems to rely heavily on being connected, but I can happily report that I read a book on the flight to NYC last week, and everything worked just fine. You can also check books in really easily by tapping on the "info" icon. The "info" area also tells you how many more days you have left on your checkout, and shows your bookmarks.
A couple of things that annoy me:
1) the bookmarking function isn't the greatest. You don't seem to be able to just place a bookmark without writing a note about that bookmark. I'm thinking that the reason they made it this way is because in a perfect world your reading spot would save, and sync across your devices. In practice it doesn't always work out that way. My tablet sensitivity is high (I know I can change it, but I haven't). So sometimes I'll go from being 20% of the way through a book to 70%, just with one accidental finger swipe. Getting back to the place I was is a giant hassle then (anyone who's ever tried to "thumb" through an ebook will understand why). So I solved the problem by placing bookmarks every few pages, just in case I unexpectedly wind up losing my place. It would be nice to do that without having to write a description each time.
2) You can't use it on a kindle (though I supposed you could on a kindle fire, if you had the app) .
3) The holds list seems wonky. I've had Walking the Bible on hold for 3 weeks. Every day it tells me that it will be available in less than a day. I don't know whether they're using days measured on Jupiter, or what, but it's definitely held steady at "less than a day" like that for at least 10 Earth Days.
And really, that's just about it.
As online storage gets cheaper, it seems as if more and more programs and services will be stored online, and 3M is definitely leading the way. The nice thing about them is that they are still willing to work with independent projects (like Douglas County) and I spoke with them about possibly integrating somehow into our own project. They have written ownership clauses into the contracts as well.
I'm glad to see such an awesome project becoming successful. The library world needs more competition like this!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Unglue.it and the burgeoning equality of the internet
Call me a wearer of rose-colored glasses, but I'm a big fan of crowdfunding whereby small investments from lots of people allow big dreams to come true. The one that's relevant to libraries right now is unglue.it, which some of you may have seen in the recent Hotline. With the tagline Give eBooks to the world (I like that!) Unglue.it allows people everywhere to coordinate and ensure that a book is made available, DRM free, for everyone to be able to read it. I've already contacted them about putting their content in our eBook platform (I promise I have news on that as soon as I get all my ducks in a row and can make announcements - but I did spend the week at BEA last week and met with loads of publishers!), and they were really interested in talking. We're going to meet at ALA.
The team really wants their first attempt to succeed, so that they can show that this is a viable option for authors and publishers, so if crowdfunding books seems like a good idea to you, I'd urge you to check it out, and perhaps contribute to their leading project at the moment, Oral Literature in Africa. Check it out, and let us know what you think! Thoughts? Opinions? I'd love to hear ideas and thoughts about it.
The team really wants their first attempt to succeed, so that they can show that this is a viable option for authors and publishers, so if crowdfunding books seems like a good idea to you, I'd urge you to check it out, and perhaps contribute to their leading project at the moment, Oral Literature in Africa. Check it out, and let us know what you think! Thoughts? Opinions? I'd love to hear ideas and thoughts about it.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
ebrary offer for public libraries
Please see this message below about a special offering from ebrary to Califa public library members, and let me know if you'd like more information.
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To help public libraries acquire e-books strategically, ebrary now offers a newPublic Library Pack: Career Development. Hand selected by ebrary’s on-staff librarians, this collection ensures your library owns a perpetual archive to recent, relevant content for public library patrons.
Priced at just $2,250, including hosting fee, the new pack includes almost 50 titles on career planning, search, training, retraining, and development, as well as vocational guidance, resumes writing, and interview techniques. It also provides information on common career choices.
The vast majority of titles are published within the last 2 years.
Browse the entire collection here:
Highlights include:
· Almanac of American Employers 2012 : Market Research, Statistics and Trends Pertaining to the Leading Corporate Employers in America, Plunkett Research, Ltd., 2011
· Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance, Volumes 1-5 (15th Edition), Facts on File, 2010
· Top 100: The Fastest-Growing Careers for the 21st Century (5th Edition), Ferguson, 2011
· Ultimate Job Search : The Definitive Guide to Networking, Interviews and Follow-up Strategies (3rd Edition), Kogan Page, 2012
OR… Subscribe to Public Library Complete thru July 31, 2012 and receive 10% discount for CALIFA members!
Libraries that also subscribe to Public Library Complete ™ or participate in our patron driven access program can affordably offer an even wider selection of career development titles eliminate any hosting fees! Public Library Complete is most cost effective way to provide multi-user access to a growing collection of more than 28,000 titles across all areas of interest for public libraries. With patron driven acquisition, libraries can provide access to vast numbers of titles and only pay if titles are used.
For more information about ebrary’s new strategic approach to e-book acquisition please view this short introductory video
Friday, May 18, 2012
National Geographic trials now available
If you have been waiting to trial before deciding to purchase the National Geographic Archive, available from Gale, trials are now available. If you'd like a trial, please let me know, and I will forward the request to Gale, who will contact you with login information.
Also, please note that the deadline to get the special 25% discounted introductory pricing is June 15. If you'd like a quote, let me know.
Thanks!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Gaylord Bonus Days
Califa Members: Get Savings Beyond Your Regular Discount
During Gaylord’s June Bonus Days
During Gaylord’s June Bonus Days
Bonus Days are coming! Gaylord offers an ongoing discount for Califa members, and this June the savings can be even greater. For the entire month, a bonus discount will be added to the regular member discount on a wide variety of products from Gaylord.
Regular member discount
· 20% off most traditional library supplies
· 15% off most furniture and archival products
Bonus deal for June
· An additional 5% off your entire order
· Plus free shipping on library or archival supply items totaling $150 or more (within the continental U.S.)
To take advantage of this offer, simply use Priority Code 37720 when ordering.
Make Gaylord your one-stop shop for library furniture, equipment, and supplies. We offer customers the benefit of choice in every category—the selection you want, and the brands you love!
To request a free catalog, place an order, or make inquiries, visit Gaylord’s website at www.Gaylord.com, call toll-free 1-800-448-6160, email orders@gaylord.com, or fax 1-800-272-3412.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
AWE Early Literacy Station Spring 2012 Order
Our twice-yearly order period for the AWE Early Literacy Stations is happening again, until June 27 this year. For those of you who are unfamiliar with these products, they are computers with software programs designed for children, and twice a year we aggregate the orders of everyone, combining them so that everyone gets the best price regardless of whether they buy 1 unit or 20. We are on the 13th order of these units - twice a year for over 6 years now - and we've only missed the 50+ price twice, so we generally reach that.
If you would like to see pricing, or get more info, check out www.califa.org/uploadfiles/AWESpring2012.pdf and let me know if you have any questions.
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