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Expanding Options for Ebooks
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by Paula J. Hane
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The market for ebooks continues to evolve so quickly that it's a challenge just keeping up with announcements—new book-related startups, ebookstores, ebook production technology, subscription platforms, and etextbook platforms. Publishers, distributors, and readers all have their share of challenges in dealing with the new technologies, tools, and formats. Here are some of the recently launched services that are aiming to redefine the book experience.
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Baker & Taylor and Findaway World to Launch Audiobook Platform
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Baker & Taylor, a distributor of digital and physical books and entertainment products, and Findaway World, LLC (Findaway), the creators of Playaway, Playaway View, and Catalist Digital, announced plans to launch a robust digital audiobook platform for public libraries and retailers later this year. The partnership leverages Findaway's extensive digital audiobook catalog and existing Catalist Digital platform with Baker & Taylor's Axis 360 digital media platform to create a seamless mobile listening experience available for libraries, patrons, and consumers—from audiobook selection to download.
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OAPEN Launches Beta Version of Directory of Open Access Books
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OAPEN (Open Access Publishing in European Networks) announced the launch of the beta version of Directory of Open Access Books, a discovery service for peer-reviewed books published under an open access (OA) license. DOAB provides a searchable index to the information about these books, with links to the full texts of the publications at the publisher's website or repository.
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New Multimedia Tools Help Museums, Libraries Support 21st Century Skills
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The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) revamped the webpage for its Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills initiative. Museums and libraries visiting the page will now be able to access practitioner videos, a PowerPoint presentation, an updated resource list, and a toolkit that will help them organize 21st-century skills workshops in their communities. These new resources join IMLS's 2009 report and self-assessment tool already in wide use.
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Opening Up the World Bank's Data
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by Marydee Ojala
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In its ongoing trajectory toward transparency, the World Bank announced on April 10, 2012, that it would make its publications open access (OA) under Creative Commons licenses. Its OA policy becomes effective on July 1, 2012. The World Bank, an international financial institution dedicated to lending money to developing nations and eradicating poverty, is also a fervent gatherer of information. Librarians and other information professionals are much more interested in the World Bank as a data source than as a lending agency. The World Bank collects data not only on economies, debt, finance, and poverty but also on health, education, urban planning, agriculture, mining, energy, and rural areas.
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