Follett Digital Resources Inks Four More Publishers to eBook Distribution Agreements

Follett Digital Resources, the premier provider of digital solutions to help publishers and educators meet the needs of 21st century learners, today announced the signing of four additional publishers to major eBook distribution agreements. With these agreements, a total of more than 51,000 K-12 and public library titles are now available for purchase online through parent company Follett’s popular ecommerce sites, Titlewave (www.titlewave.com) and Titletales (www.titletales.com).

The four are Nova Press, Los Angeles, Calif.; Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y.; Temple University Press, Philadelphia, Pa.; and Zed Books Ltd., London, England. Follett eBook distribution agreements enable publishers’ digital titles to be in front of more than 60,000 schools and libraries.

Follett Digital Resources’ distribution agreements with eBook publishers have surpassed the 200 mark. According to Beau Clark, Vice President of Product Management, each enables schools and libraries to meet the needs of more students who can easily access eBooks at any hour using a computer and Internet connection.

“Students can get homework help at any time, can locate a book they’ll need to review during school tomorrow, read for pleasure on their own time and connect with eBooks 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 four publishers coming on-stream and available through Follett’s K-12 and public library channels.”

“We’re excited to make our digital titles available to students and libraries through Follett’s distribution channels,” said Jeff Kolby, President of Nova Press. “Today’s students are excited to be able to access digital content to enhance their learning outside of school.”

The Follett Digital Resources eBook distribution system uses four key pieces of technology to deliver eBooks:
Virtual Warehousing — Where eBooks reside until sold to a Follett school or library customer
Preview — Technology that allows buyers and patrons to preview pages of an eBook prior to purchase
Digital Rights Management — Technology ensuring that intellectual property is protected as eBooks are distributed and viewed
Virtual Shelves — Where eBooks are poised for checkout and reading by patrons once purchased by Follett school and public library customers

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.

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 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 www.follett.com.

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