E-Books

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E-books have been around since the early 1990s but have had a slow adoption by the higher education community. While e-books allow for the inclusion of richer media, providing a more interactive experience for the reader, the format, as well as access and copyright issues, are still currently evolving. Explore this resource site—a collection of all EDUCAUSE resources related to E-Books.

Articles, Papers, and Reports

E-books: Developments and Policy Considerations, OECD, October 2012
A Study of Four Textbook Distribution Models, EDUCAUSE Quarterly, December 2011. In preparation for campus-wide e-text adoption, Daytona State College completed a two-year comparative study of four textbook distribution models: print purchase, print rental, e-text rental, and e-text rental with e-reader device.
Mobile Perspectives: On e-books E-Reading: The Transition in Higher Education EDUCAUSE Review, March/April 2011.
2011 Horizon Report, ELI/NMC, February 2011. Each year, the Horizon Report describes six areas of emerging technology that will have significant impact on higher education. This year electronic books are prominently featured in the report.
The User-Driven Purchase Giveaway Library, EDUCAUSE Review, September/October 2010.
Deploying Innovation Locally, EDUCAUSE Review, September/October 2010.
E-Textbooks: “An Interesting Ride”, EDUCAUSE Review, March/April 2010.
7 Things You Should Know About E-Readers, ELI, March 2010.
Digital Books and Your Rights: A Checklist for Readers, Electronic Frontier Foundation, February 2010
E-Books in Higher Education: Are We There Yet?, ECAR Research Bulletin, January 2010
7 Things You Should Know About E-Books, ELI, November 2006

Presentations, Podcasts, Seminars, and Videos

The Horizon Report in Action: Emerging Technologies Today and Tomorrow, EDUCAUSE Live!, March 2012. This webinar discusses mobiles, electronic books, learning analytics, and other emerging technology areas
eTexts: A Perishable Opportunity for Higher Education?, EDUCAUSE Live!, January 2012. This EDUCAUSE Live! This program addresses the strategic, business, and policy implications for institutions in light of a changing world of consumer electronics and new models for digital educational resources such as eTexts, website tutorials, and other licensed content
Digital Content in Higher Education – Practical Findings, ELI Web Seminar, March 2011 (ELI membership required) This webinar provides an overview of the digital textbook landscape as it currently exists and a glimpse into the emerging trends that will shape higher education digital content in the near future.
Dealing with the Changing World of E-Textbooks, EDUCAUSE Annual Conference, October 2010. This video from E10 examines the current trends in textbook technology with respect to delivery platform options (iPad, Kindle, etc.), software format (electronic publication versus PDF), and pedagogical implications.
Kindles in the Classroom: Theories, Practices, and Results in a Lower-Division English Course, ELI Annual Conference, January 2010. At California Lutheran University, the goal of the Kindle pilot project was to explore and identify the practices that would best optimize the Kindle's teaching/learning potential—a potential CLU recognized as promoting deeper student engagement in critical reading and writing.
E-Readers and E-Textbooks: Current Reality and Future Possibilities, EDUCAUSE Live!, August 2009. This seminar addresses the current state of e-reader devices and their functionality as platforms for the delivery of e-textbooks, as experienced by Northwest Missouri State University in its 2008–2009 pilot study.

Updated November 2012

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EDUCAUSE Library Items for E-Books

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We Love E-Books!: April 1, 2013

Carrie Rampp is Director of Library Services and Instructional Technology at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. True confession: I really love e-books. They are so conven…
eTexts: A Perishable Opportunity for Higher Education?: January 24, 2012

What role, if any, should colleges and universities play in the shift from print to digital textbooks (eTexts) ? One perspective is that eTexts are a consumer transaction between a publisher …
A Study of Four Textbook Distribution Models: December 15, 2011

Key Takeaways In preparation for campus-wide e-text adoption , Daytona State College completed a two-year comparative study of four textbook distribution models : print purch…
Frequently Asked Questions About the June 29, 2010, Dear Colleague Letter: May 26, 2011

The Department of Education has determined that this document is a “significant guidance document” under the Office of Management and Budget’s Final Bulletin for Agency Good Guidance Pract…
Elaborating on Online Accessibility: May 27, 2011

The Department of Education elaborated on a 2010 letter urging college and university presidents to make sure that the “emerging technology” on their campuses squares with federal laws pro…
Barnes & Noble: October 18, 2011

Barnes & Noble.com is the Internet's largest bookstore featuring everyday low prices on an outstanding selection of eBooks, eTextbooks, rental, used and new textbooks, critically acclaimed…
[Mobile Perspectives: On e-books] E-Reading: The Transition in Higher Education: April 7, 2011

David McCarthy ( dmccarthy@book.com ) is Director of Product Management for Digital Education at Barnes & Noble. Comments on this article can be posted to the web via the link at…
Digital Content in Higher Education – Practical Findings: March 7, 2011

Digital content growth is exploding in all facets of book publishing, including the higher education market. The digital reading universe is a maelstrom of formats, devices, digital rights mana…
7 Things You Should Know About iPad Apps for Learning: February 9, 2011

Applications designed for the iPad offer interactive content that takes advantage of touch-screen navigation. The iPad combines robust computational functionality with a screen large enough to …
Cal State's Strong Push for Accessible Technology Gets Results: December 12, 2010

Over the past five years, Cal State has waged one of higher education's most aggressive campaigns for accessible technology. It has adopted stringent standards for vendors and employees. Alo…