OverDrive Launches Browser-Based E-Reader

OverDrive Introduces Browser-based eBook Reader

OverDrive Read™ provides instant eBook access on tablets, smartphones and computers to connect readers with books, authors and booksellers.

Leading global eBook distributor OverDrive today announced plans to launch later this year a new eBook reading platform, “OverDrive Read.” Based on open standards HTML5 and EPUB, OverDrive Read creates a fresh, direct and immersive reading experience offering significant benefits for publishers, booksellers, libraries and schools. Unlike eBook apps or devices, OverDrive Read enables readers using standard web browsers to enjoy eBooks online and offline without first installing any software or activating their device. OverDrive will demonstrate this new eReading platform at Book Expo America, in New York City, June 5-7, 2012 (Booth #4340), as well as at the American Library Association annual conference in Anaheim, Calif., June 22-25.

Based on the best-of-breed technology developed by recently-acquired Australian eBook firm Booki.sh, OverDrive Read will provide new options for millions of readers who access eBooks from OverDrive’s global network of retail, library and school catalogs. Browser-based eBooks improve discovery and social options for authors and publishers to more directly connect with readers. To that end, OverDrive Read creates a URL for each title where preview, review copies, browsing and sampling can be widely and easily promoted. OverDrive Read supports both online and offline reading with configurable, industry-approved copyright protection for eBooks.

To view a demo title using OverDrive Read, please visit https://penelopiad-18893a.booki.sh/.

As with other browser-based systems, OverDrive Read will enable publishers, authors and retailers to benefit from more direct engagement with readers and to gather data about how users are discovering, browsing and selecting eBooks and catalogs through OverDrive global channels. “OverDrive Read’s use of open web standards will enable online communities to accelerate discovery and socialization of eBooks,” said Erica Lazzaro, OverDrive’s director of publisher relations. ”It will enable OverDrive’s catalog of premium eBooks from over 1,000 publishers to be easily integrated across retail, school and library catalogs for standard computers and connected mobile devices.”

When launched, OverDrive Read will complement OverDrive’s support for EPUB and PDF eBooks on a broad range of dedicated e-Ink eReaders, smartphones, tablets and computers. OverDrive also provides distribution of eBooks and audiobooks using OverDrive® Media Console™; the application has been installed more than 15 million times on PC, Mac®, iPhone®, iPad®, Android™, BlackBerry®, and Windows® Phone devices. OverDrive Read will be available through all of OverDrive’s extensive eBook catalogs available to its global network of booksellers, OEMs and other resellers—as well as through public, school and corporate libraries—in more than 20 countries.
(Digital Book World, May 30, 2012)

Patrons Can Make a Difference in E Publishing

WPLC has been discussing strategies for encouraging publishers who won’t sell e-books to libraries to begin doing so.  At our May 22 meeting the WPLC Board voted to ask public library systems to encourage their member libraries to provide a link to the webpage below on their own webpages.  The page was created by Topeka and Shawnee County Library in Kansas and it does a nice job of explaining why some e-books are simply unavailable in public libraries.  It also encourages patrons to contact publishers and ask them to sell to us.
 

http://ebooksforlibraries.com/

 Thanks,

Jim Trojanowski, WPLC Chair
Jim Trojanowski, Director

Northern Waters Library Service

3200 E Lakeshore Dr

Ashland WI 54806

Ph 715-682-2365 x11

Fax 715-685-2704

New ALA Report Explores Challenges of Equitable Access to Digital Content

The American Library Association (ALA) today released a new report examining critical issues underlying equitable access to digital content through our nation’s libraries. In the report, titled “E-content: The Digital Dialogue,” authors explore an unprecedented and splintered landscape in which several major publishers refuse to sell ebooks to libraries; proprietary platforms fragment our cultural record; and reader privacy is endangered.

“Broad information access is essential for communities to compete in the global knowledge economy,” said ALA President Molly Raphael. “As more and more content is delivered digitally, we simply cannot afford to lock down books and lock out readers. This timely supplement addresses the need to protect fair and reasonable library access to digital information.”

The report, published as a supplement to American Libraries magazine, explores various licensing models and the state of librarian-publisher relations. Additionally, the report provides an update on the ALA-wide effort to promote access to digital content (co-chaired by Robert Wolven, associate university librarian at Columbia University, and Sari Feldman, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library). The effort includes meeting with publishers, distributors and other important stakeholders; championing public advocacy, and writing position papers that advance practical business models without compromising library values.

E-content: The Digital Dialogue identifies a number of ways libraries and publishers can collaborate to lessen the digital content divide.

“Publishers, distributors and libraries must accept that new models of lending will not look like the old print model,” writes Robert C. Maier, director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and Carrie Russell, director of the ALA Program on Public Access to Information. “We are not just trying to solve a library lending problem, although that is the current emergency.”

After detailing his conversations with a reader, writer, publisher and bookseller, Douglas County Public Library Director James LaRue also asks librarians to “rethink,” and lays out directions to pursue, including an updated legal framework, new content management models and partnership opportunities with other stakeholders in the reading ecosystem.

“Libraries will have to transform into places that help citizens become full-fledged creative members of their communities, both producing and archiving personal stories,” writes Peter Brantley, director of the BookServer Project at the Internet Archive.

Lisa Long Hickman, sales and marketing manager of Dzanc Books, argues for open lines of communication to enable fair play, and Deborah Caldwell-Stone deputy director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, urges proactive steps to protect library users’ privacy rights.
“This report reflects both the here and now, and what is to come down the digital road,” said Alan Inouye, director of the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy, and editor of the publication.

View the supplement (PDF). For more information about the ALA’s efforts on digital content and libraries, visit the American Libraries e-content blog.

(ALA District Dispatch, May 23, 2012)

Poet Laureate of Wisconsin To Visit Wabeno May 31, 2012

Bruce Dethlefsen, 2012 Poet Laureate of Wisconsin, will be visiting and performing in Wabeno on Thursday May 31st 7 p.m. at the Big Easel Gallery and Bistro, located at 1784 Maple Avenue, Wabeno. He will spend time the next day in the classroom of Liz Couillard, local poet and high school faculty member at the Wabeno High School. The Wabeno Public Library and the Wabeno School District are co-sponsoring, with support from the Friends of the Wabeno Library and artists Tim and Connie Friesen, owners of The Big Easel. Part of Dethlefsen’s mission as the state’s Poet Laureate is to encourage performances of poetry through “open mike” experiences, so he will be encouraging writers of poetry to read during part of the evening event. He has posted other events on his website: www.brucedethlefsen.com  

Library Director Carol Lee Saffioti-Hughes points out that there was close collaboration and support from Wabeno School District Superintendent Kim Odekirk as well as Connie and Tim. She commented, “This event is a significant one for the Northwoods, and a great match for the growing collaboration of artists and writers in the area. We are pleased and honored to be the co-sponsors of the event. Though we have an established fiction writers’ group in the local area, as a poet I would like to see a poets group in the area as well, and this is an excellent way to open up the discussion.”

Dethlefson has two chapbooks, A Decent Reed and Something Near the Dance Floor, and his full-length book, Breather, published by Fireweed Press, won an Outstanding Achievement Award in Poetry from the Wisconsin Library Association. His new book, Unexpected Shiny Things, is published by Cowfeather Press.

His poetry has been featured on Garrison Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanac and Your Daily Poem. A retired educator and public library director, he lives in Westfield, Wisconsin.  Though the Thursday evening event is free and open to the public, reservations are encouraged, as space is limited and refreshments from the menu will be available at a la carte rates. The Friesens commented: “We want to encourage vocal arts events on summer Thursdays, and this is a grand way to begin!” Connie is an artist, and Tim a musician. “We often have local musicians dropping by as well as providing regular entertainment on a weekend schedule,” added Tim. The Friesens have brought arts festivals, murals, and musical performances to audiences from the local to the international. The Big Easel is also home to AVEC: “Arts Vitally Enrich Communities,” An aggregation of local artists from many disciplines who often show their work, and perform.

The activities in the school the following day are not open to the public. However, books will be available for sale at the poetry reading, and afterwards through contact with the Wabeno Public Library. For more information, contact the Library at 715-473-4131. For reservations, contact The Big Easel and Bistro at 715-889-3438.
(Carol Lee Saffioti-Hughes, Director - Wabeno Public Library)

WVLS UPDATE - May 2012

WVLS Signs Contract With Innovative!

We are pleased to announce that at last Saturday’s meeting, the WVLS Board of Trustees signed a contract with Innovative Interfaces to be the vendor for our shared online catalog, V-Cat.

The V-Cat Council’s Migration Committee, whose charge it was to study integrated library systems and bring a recommendation to the V-Cat Council and to the WVLS Board, are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to the project.  Members include:  Mary Dunn, Chair (Tomahawk Public Library); Ellie Schwartz (T.B. Scott Library, Merrill); Garrett Erickson and Mary Stachowiak (Marathon County Public Library); Julie Beloungy (Thorp Public Library); Pat Reich (Jean M. Thomsen Memorial Library, Stetsonville); Ed Hughes (Rhinelander District Library); and WVLS staff members Inese Christman, Joshua Klingbeil, Juanita Thomas and Ann Mroczenski.

The magnitude of this project will require a sustained and significant amount of work by V-Cat members and WVLS staff over the next 5-6 months.  However, plans are in the works to ensure a successful and efficient transition from the current Horizon software to Innovative. 

Within the next few days, V-Cat Administrator Inese Christman will be in contact with the vendor to discuss the project, and be introduced to the vendor’s implementation team.   Once a project calendar is established, Christman will assign responsibilities to representatives of the Migration Committee’s Implementation Teams, and share updates with the V-Cat Council when appropriate.

Staff News

The last update mentioned WVLS would be posting the mail clerk position that will be vacated by retiring KATHY LEITZA at the end of June.  Since that update, WVLS decided that it would be in our best interest to add hours to part-time staffers rather than hire a new employee. 

Also, WVLS has secured another intern!  UW-Madison School of Libraries and Information Studies student KYLE SCHULZ will start his 120-hour practicum on Wednesday, June 6^th, and will work two 6-hour days each week for ten weeks.  His work will be centered on V-Cat-related projects.

Projects

2012 System Survey – Thoughts Still Welcome

In the last update we announced to our members that the Wisconsin Valley Library Service would be interested in your assessment and ideas for the future of system services, and to complete an online survey by May 18^th.

That deadline has passed but we have not yet received comments from many of our public libraries.  So, we are extending the deadline to complete the survey to Friday, June 1^st.   The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012systemsurvey  (If a paper copy of the survey is preferred, please contact the WVLS office.)   

Colleagues who have not yet completed the survey are encouraged to take the survey. You may not have answers for every question, but you do have an opinion about the services and programs provided by the system.  This biennium saw a 10% reduction in funding for systems and the future doesn’t look hopeful for any increases.  The next few years will be more important than ever for the WVLS board and staff, and we will need all the help you can give us to design the future for libraries in the WVLS area.  And your thoughts, while always welcome, are especially welcome now.

WVLS Agreements with Member Counties and Member Libraries

With the changes in statutory language - i.e. the elimination of the Maintenance of Effort/Maintenance of Membership Support requirement – there is a need to revise and renew WVLS agreements with participating libraries and counties. 

Draft copies of revised agreements will be shared with the WVLS Board of Trustees at their next meeting.  Once approved, copies of the agreements will be sent to public library directors and chairs of all WVLS county library boards for signatures.

Upcoming Events

·         May 22 – Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) Board meeting – South Central Library System, Madison and via GoToMeeting.

·         May 28 – Memorial Day - WVLS office closed.

·         May 30 – WVLS Executive Committee meeting, Marathon County Public Library (MCPL).

·         May 30 – WiLS Peer Council Spring Meeting - Pyle Center, Madison.

·         June 5 - VOTE!

·         June 7 - WVLS V-Cat Council meeting - MCPL.

·         June 7 - V-Cat Migration Committee meeting - MCPL.

·         June 14 - V-Cat Cooperative Circulation Committee meeting - MCPL.

·         June 21 - V-Cat Bib Committee meeting - MCPL.

·        July 13 - Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND) meeting - Hartford Public Library.

·         July 26 – WVLS Collection Development Committee meeting – MCPL.

·         July 26 – WVLS Collection Development Committee meeting – MCPL.

·         August 2 – WVLS V-Cat Council meeting – Minocqua Public Library

·         August 4 – WVLS Board of Trustees meeting – MCPL.

·         August 14 – WVLS Reference/IT Workshop – MCPL.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Marla Sepnafski, Director

WISCONSIN VALLEY LIBRARY SERVICE

Working Together: Blending-Merging-Transforming

Register now for this year's support staff and circulation services conference!

Working Together: Blending - Merging - Transforming is the theme for the May 23 one-day conference sponsored by the Support Staff and Circulation Services Section of WLA in Appleton at the DJ Bordini Business & Industry Center. 

Not only will you connect with peers from around the state and learn about issues impacting library service, but you'll come away refreshed and renewed for your work back home. 

Learn from the following sessions:

• tour of the Fox Valley Technical College Library
• implementing RFID technology: how to do it, how it will affect circulation and staffing and more
• tools and techniques for using digital storytelling to communicate the value of your library with impact
• how to do yoga in your chair for everyday fitness and stress relief
• how to help your patrons use the e-resources available through the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium, focused on downloading e-books to diffferent e-readers
• how you can tailor customer service practices for individuals with autism, the third most common developmental disability

And of course, don't miss fascinating keynotes: "The Tattooed Librarian" by Amelia Osterud and "All Together Now: Library Advocacy, Front Line Service, and the Wisconsin Library Community" by Ron McCabe, WLA President. 

Time is short. Please register by May 16 to take advantage of this great day of programming scheduled especially for library support staff.

See you there!

Support Staff & Circulation Services Section Board

Enter OverDrive’s 2012 Outreach Program Contest

I know many of you are doing very creative things to promote the WPLC Digital Books collection.  Here's an opportunity to share what you are doing with  OverDrive with the incentive of lots of prizes.
If you have questions regarding submitting your idea, please contact Sara Gold at sgold@wils.wisc.edu.

Entries must be received by June 30th.

We’re always impressed by the creative ways in which OverDrive library and school partners promote their digital collections, and our annual Outreach Program Contest gives us a chance to recognize and reward some of your best efforts. Between now and June 30, we invite all OverDrive library partners to enter the contest by sharing community-outreach success stories. We have great prizes to give away, including an Apple iPad® for the winner of the brand-new Test Drive category. After the success of our 2011 Outreach Program Contest, we’re hoping for even more participation this year.

Share your creative and effective marketing efforts with us, and we’ll share them with the world. We want to hear about your promotional campaigns for eBooks and audiobooks, user-training events, or how your digital collection’s circulation has skyrocketed in the past six months due to your creative ideas.

Who can participate?
The Outreach Program Contest is open to all OverDrive library and education partners, including main and branch locations, and libraries participating in an OverDrive shared collection.

How can my library win?
We’ll award prizes to the libraries with the most creative and effective campaigns in four categories—Online, Inside the Library, Outside the Library and Test Drive. We’ll also name one grand-prize winner from among librariess that submit entries for at least three of the four categories.

To enter, fill out a PDF entry form and email it to outreachcontest@overdrive.com or fax it to 216.573.6888 by Saturday, June 30, 2012. Be sure to include any related pictures, documents, presentations or links to support your entry.

What are the prizes?
Winning libraries will receive the following prizes, as well as recognition in OverDrive’s Digital Library Blog and Digital Dispatch newsletter:

Online
Awards creative and effective use of library website, OverDrive-hosted website, social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and any other online-based promotions.
Prize: $1,000 content credit

Inside the Library
Awards creative and effective use of banner displays, patron training events, staff involvement, etc.
Prize: $1,000 content credit

Outside the Library
Awards creative and effective use of advertisements in your local publications, use of signs or billboards in your community, partnerships with a local school or coffee shops, etc.
Prize: $1,000 content credit

Test Drive
Awards creative and effective promotions for Test Drive program. Library must be enrolled in Test Drive and actively lending or presenting a plan to lend Test Drive-approved devices to users.  Prize: Apple iPad®

Grand Prize:
Recognizes an overall winner for creative and effective outreach efforts. Library must submit entries for at least three of the four categories.
Prize: $1,500 content credit

We’ll announce the winners in early August. All library and education partners are welcome to participate, but entries submitted for previous Outreach Program contests are ineligible.
Looking for inspiration? Check out last year’s winning entries and take advantage of the marketing resources available in our Online Marketing Kit and in the Resources section of the Learning Center.

Best Kept Secret: Marketing the Small & Rural Library

Is your small or rural library the community's best kept secret? Libraries are not known for "tooting their own horns" so valuable services and resources go unnoticed. Join us for a webinar, hosted by WebJunction in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, to learn about marketing and branding and what it means to the 21st century small and rural library. Michelle and Melinda will talk about ways to build mutually beneficial business partnerships that result in free media advertising as well as sponsorship for events and services. These marketing techniques are guaranteed to lead to long term development opportunities as well as sustainability.

Presented by: Michelle A. McIntyre, director, Roaring Spring Community Library (PA); and Melinda Tanner, district consultant librarian, Washington, Greene & Fayette Counties (PA)

Don't miss this great opportunity on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 1:00 pm  (CST)

Register 

*You will be sent a registration confirmation email and a reminder email the day prior to the event.

This FREE webinar will provide marketing and branding techniques for small and rural libraries and explore partnerships that support effective marketing

WPLC Digital Media Buying Pool Webinar

This is a reminder that there will be a webinar to discuss Wisconsin’s digital media buying pool at 10:00 AM on Thursday, May 3, 2012.  Please note that there is a connection change.  We realized this morning that our original meeting space was with GoToMeeting, which permits a maximum of 25 participants.  The new link is with GoToWebinar, which should be large enough to let everyone in.  You should register using the link below.   There is no cost to participate. Jim Trojanowski, WPLC Chair

Join us for a Webinar on May 3 Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/392762351 Please join Jim Trojanowski, Jeff Gilderson-Duwe, and Sara Gold for a 90 minute webinar about Wisconsin’s digital media buying pool at 10:00 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012. We’ll briefly discuss why and how the buying pool was created, why we believe it makes sense for Wisconsin’s public libraries,  what we’ve learned in the few months since it started, and how materials are selected for the collection. Once our brief (15-30 minute) presentation is complete, there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. About the panel: Jim Trojanowski is Director of Northern Waters Library Service and Chair of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC), which created and maintains the digital media buying pool. Jeff Gilderson-Duwe is Director of Oshkosh Public Library and Winnefox Library System.  He served as a member of the WPLC committee that developed the concept of the buying pool. Sara Gold is Cooperative Purchasing and Licensing Program Librarian at WiLS.  She is consultant to the WPLC Selection Committee, which is responsible for purchasing content for the buying pool. Title: WPLC Digital Media Buying Pool webinar Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

A Brief Summary on Cloud Storage Comparisons

Cloud storage is in. For the general consumer there's DropBox, Box.net, Google Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, Apple iCloud, and much more.

There are some great comparisons out there, but many are dated. Oddly, ADrive, a service which offers 50GB free for personal use, is rarely mentioned in these comparisons.  I've never used ADrive, I'm a Drop Box guy myself, but I've heard great things about them and they look to be a very polished service.  They're definitely worth a look.


Here are a few recent breakdowns of some of the popular options.

ars technica:

• Cloud storage: a pricing and feature guide for consumers

• SpiderOak: Dropbox for the security obsessive

SCLS TechBits:

• Dropbox, Skydrive and Google Drive: a Quick Comparison