This new library-in-a-shipping-container plans on using growing Internet access in Africa to create a new model for making available both electronic information and physical books. It’s a conundrum that library advocates have struggled with for years: in many areas in the developing world, libraries run on donations, which means they often end up with irrelevant books that never even get removed from their boxes. People still come to libraries in these places for a quiet place to read and study, but certainly not because of the resources they provide. Recently, a crop of initiatives have launched that aim to make libraries more relevant again. Librii, a project from Libraries Across Africa that’s seeking $50,000 in funding from Kickstarter, is one of them. The project, which began as Librii director David Dewane’s thesis idea at the Rice School of Architecture, bills itself as "a digitally enhanced, community-based, revenue-generating library on the frontiers of broadband connectivity." In simple terms, the founders envision low-cost libraries (a single library in Ghana to start) that take advantage of the burgeoning fiber optic infrastructure in Africa to provide Internet access, curated content, educational programs, and of course, physical books.Read Full Story Continue reading at 'Fast Company'
[ Fast Company | 2013-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Arts Council England’s Envisioning the Library of the Future project has concluded that... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Despite his early support for ebooks, Stephen King latest novel, Joyland will be published in print only, with no digital version anticipated. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's taken a number of steps to bring different types of content to the Kindle Store, and it's now venturing into an area that has a long history with the internet: fan fiction. The company's today announced Kindle Worlds, a new publishing platform that promises to pay writers royalties for... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A groundbreaking paperless public library system will open in Texas this year, the BBC reports.A groundbreaking paperless public library system will open in Texas this year, the BBC reports. Bexar County's $1.5-million BiblioTech project will open its first library branch without a single print... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Argentine government’s economic protectionism is thwarting the growth of ebook sales,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Little, Brown's Blackfriars digital-only imprint will publish a novel created by authors... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jenkintown, PA (May 14, 2013) — MEI Portico™ version 2.5 has been released today as part of Managing Editor Inc.’s lineup of solutions for digital publishers. MEI's Portico delivers a tailored app experience ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NEW YORK—Chris Wilkes admitted he was initially uncertain of how Hearst's digital efforts would play out—he even made sure to keep his old job when he started his work on tablets. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dotdotdot imagines its users as one big book discussion group, with everyone wielding the same highlighter. Instapaper and Readability have both found success offering a simple, core interaction: save an article online to read somewhere else later. With both you can also follow what friends... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hearst Magazines has created the position of president of digital media and appointed Troy Young from Say Media to the role. Continue reading at Media Week
[ Media Week | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Arts Council England’s new director for libraries has said he would like to “change... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Six libraries in Manchester are set to close on 29th June despite opposition from the public. A... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Consumer protection laws will be updated to include digital purchases such as ebooks, the Queen... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon let its world domination plans be known last month when it asked developers to start submitting apps to line its virtual displays in more countries. While China was notably absent from immediate expansion plans, Amazon launched its Appstore there during the weekend, opening the doors to... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette, the last holdout among America's "big six" publishers, will make its full ebook catalog available to nonprofit public libraries and school libraries across the nation on May 8th. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Last year, Hearst Magazines head David Carey said his company would have a million people subscribing to its tablet editions by the end of 2012. That didn’t happen, and they ended December with something like 900,000 subscri ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The implications of Open Access for libraries will be debated in Westminster at an event hosted... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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If you're still balking at the cost of download-to-own ebooks, and would rather stick to the tried-and-true library lending system, then this Hachette news is for you. Come next Wednesday, the entirety of Hachette's ebook catalog -- over 5,000 titles -- will be made available to nonprofit... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brian Ashley, formerly Nottingham City Council's director of culture, will take on the role... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rufoof, an startup in Dubai, aims to make Arabic digital content more widely available by solving ebook formatting issues and providing an app-based ebook platform. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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