Follett Digital Resources Signs Ten More Publishers to eBook Distribution Agreements
As eBooks continue to be embraced as valuable teaching and learning tools, more and more publishers are selecting Follett Digital Resources (FDR) as a preferred distribution partner. Ten more publishers have partnered with FDR to bring the total number of eBook titles Follett offers to more than 52,500 from more than 250 publishers.
McHenry, IL (PRWEB) June 22, 2009
Follett Digital Resources (http://www. follettdigital. com), a member of the Follett Corporation family of companies, today announced that ten additional publishers have signed major eBook distribution agreements with the company. With these agreements, a total of more than 52,500 K-12 and public library titles are now available for purchase online through parent company Follett's popular ecommerce sites, Titlewave (http://www. titlewave. com (http://www. titlewave. com)) and Titletales (http://www. titletales. com (http://www. titletales. com)).
The ten are ABC-CLIO, LLC, Santa Barbara, CA; Bookmaster, Inc., Ashland, OH; Equinox Publishing Limited, London, U. K.; J. Weston Walch, Publisher, Portland, ME; Macmillan US, New York, NY; Morton Publishing Company, Englewood, CO; Omnigraphics, Detroit, MI; Perseus Books, LLC, Cambridge, MA; Swimming Kangaroo, Arlington, TX; and The Do-It-Yourself Florist, Gilroy, CA.
The addition of titles from these ten publishers makes Follett's eBook program even more valuable to the more than 60,000 K-12 schools and libraries Follett serves, said Beau Clark, Vice President of Product Management. Follett now offers eBook titles from over 250 publishers that are easily accessible at any hour using a computer and an Internet connection.
"With Follett eBooks, students can get homework help when they need it, can access a book they'll need to review during school tomorrow, read for pleasure on their own time and keep reading during summertime or a holiday break period," Clark said. "It's a plus for schools, libraries and students to have access to new eBook titles from these ten publishers coming on-stream and available through Follett's K-12 and public library channels."
"We are excited to be partnering with Follett Digital Resources to make our eBooks more accessible than ever," said Becky Snyder, President of ABC-CLIO. "Convenience and ease-of-use are very much in line with the 21st Century research philosophy ABC-CLIO is committed to supporting, which is shaping how students learn, how teachers instruct, and how librarians organize and run their libraries. We're glad to be working with Follett to make that philosophy a reality."
The Follett Digital Resources eBook distribution system uses five key pieces of technology to deliver eBooks:
Virtual Warehousing -- Technology that holds eBooks at the ready until sold to a Follett school or library customer. Preview -- Functionality that allows buyers and patrons to preview pages of an eBook prior to purchase. Digital Rights Management -- Ensures intellectual property is protected as eBooks are distributed and viewed. Virtual Shelves -- A virtual space for each institution's purchased Follett eBooks where they are poised for checkout and reading by school and library patrons. Follett Digital Reader -- A proprietary eBook reader for viewing and interacting with eBooks offline once they have been purchased by a Follett school or public library customer and downloaded by a library patron.
When a school or library buys an eBook title from Follett Digital Resources, the title is moved to a virtual shelf where it resides until it is checked out by a school or library patron. Digital rights management technology ensures that once a title is checked out by one person, it can't be checked out by anyone else until it has been returned to the virtual shelf. Where possible, the eBook distribution system is tightly connected with leading integrated library systems (ILS), such as Follett Software Company's Destiny Library Manager, allowing searching, accessing and returning eBooks to become part of the library's standard circulation process.
"The introduction of the Follett Digital Reader earlier this year makes Follett eBooks even more appealing to students and educators," said Clark. "We're excited more and more publishers are partnering with us to deliver digital content to today's tech-savvy students."
About Follett Digital Resources
As part of Follett Corporation and its 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 Follett's deep expertise in the educational publishing and distribution fields, Follett Digital Resources delivers a single source for digital solutions that not only incorporate the most advanced technology available, but are also exclusively focused on improving the learning process. Learn more at http://www. follettdigital. com (http://www. follettdigital. com).
About Follett Corporation
Follett Corporation is a $2.5 billion, privately-held company that provides products, services and solutions to the educational marketplace. Follett Corporation was founded in 1873, and today is headquartered in River Grove, Illinois. Learn more at http://www. follett. com (http://www. follett. com).
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