Ebooks at Liberal Arts Colleges

". CSU has announced a three-year deal with Nature Publishing Group for low-cost, interactive, web-based textbooks with access options for disabled students. "

"Freed-Hardeman University has launched an experimental iPad pilot program that will allow a handful of preselected instructors and their students to experience the iPad in the classroom environment and beyond. Students began using the iPads last week as part of a summer general chemistry class."

"Despite their fondness for social networking and cell phones, most college students say they prefer textbooks in printed rather than e-text form. Nearly 75% of students to recently respond to a major new research survey from the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) said they prefer printed texts, citing a fondness for print's look and feel, as well as its permanence and ability to be resold."

"Senior campus IT officers remain bullish on the future of eBooks. Nine-tenths (90.1 percent) of the survey participants agree or strongly agree that "eBook content will be an important source for instructional resources in five years," up from 86.5 percent in 2010 and 76.3 percent in 2009. Additionally, more than four-fifths (81.7 percent, compared to 78.6 percent in 2010 and 66.0 percent in 2009) agree/strongly agree that "eBook readers (hardware) will be important platforms for instructional content in five years.""

"We have representatives from 20 academic libraries on board for the trial and half a dozen publishers willing to explore eTextbooks in libraries. Those publishers participating in the trial have asked to review core textbooks that are adopted at the participating institutions. The Steering Committee has suggested focusing on business & economic titles, nursing, health sciences and law but will consider other subjects." (Australia-based)

Inkling, ipad textbooks in education

"So where's the revolution in the e-textbook market? According to the National Association of College Stores (NACS), digital books currently account for less than 3 percent of textbook sales. NACS expects that percentage to reach 10 to 15 percent by 2012, while researchers at Simba Information predict that e-textbooks will account for more than 11 percent of textbook sales by 2013. But even this relatively swift growth rate represents a trickle compared to the flood of e-book sales on Amazon."

"digital book maker Kobo has created a social reading platform for the iPad that it says it will bring to all of its platforms. The platform allows readers to check in with characters and places on Facebook, earn badges and track reading traffics - sharing to social networks like Facebook at every step. No doubt there are many interesting directions Kno could take for approaching its social features from the basic app it launched on Wednesday."

Mashable topic site on etextbooks

"CourseSmart®, the world's largest provider of eTextbooks and digital course materials, today announced a new relationship with Western Governors University (WGU), in which the university will integrate CourseSmart's digital library into its online student portal, creating a comprehensive, single sign-on, platform where students and instructors can access their eTextbooks anytime, anywhere.WGU, a fully-accredited non-profit university with more than 26,000 students, began integrating CourseSmart's eTextbooks into its online learning environment in April 2011. "

"Another market where eBooks have a lot of potential is education. It too is at an early stage, but there are many benefits to students accessing their text books electronically. Shared highlights, margin notes, search - to name a few. Surprisingly though, it's not iPad and eReaders that are driving the eTextbook market - but PCs and netbooks. The iPhone and Android are making some in-roads, however. "

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"Since 1969, Simba's newsletters and business intelligence reports have delivered metrics and analysis deemed critical by top executives in the textbook publishing market. Our content offers the comprehensive, in-depth analysis you need to understand the demand for print instruction and electronic media in PreK-12 schools and is the most-trusted source for the highly competitive $3.5 billion college publishing industry. S"