From website
http://hechingerreport.org/digital-books-could-be-the-next-frontier-in-getting-more-books-into-the-hands-of-disadvantaged-children/
More than $250 million worth of electronic books will soon be provided to children in low-income communities.
Nine major book publishers will partner with nonprofit organizations
to provide free e-books to community libraries, according to last week’s
announcement from the White House. And more than 30 cities, including
Chicago, Baltimore and San Francisco, signed on to the president’s challenge to sign more children up for library cards.
The announcement was the latest update to President Obama’s ConnectED
program, which seeks to improve teaching and learning through expanded
access to digital materials and new technologies. Commitments from the
federal government and private organizations are estimated at $10
billion over the next five years, according to the White House.
The free books and a push to put more library cards into the hands of
children were just part of last week’s announcement. It also included
efforts to make sure the digital books are easy to reach and attractive.
For instance, volunteer librarians from the Digital Public Library of
America will work with the New York Public Library to increase access to
age-appropriate titles. And graphic artists will work with an
organization called Recovering the Classics to improve fonts and designs
in books to make them more attractive to children.
Digital books tend to be cheaper than traditional print versions,
creating a potential cost-savings in an expensive line item in many
library and school budgets. But advocates say that’s just the start of
what is possible.
Some organizations are working on electronic school textbooks that go
beyond reproducing the simple text experience in a digital format. They
offer embedded video and interactive features that could improve
teaching and learning. And some say open-source textbooks could further
change the textbook market dynamic because they offer high-tech
textbooks for a hard-to-beat price: free.
It’s not a quick fix.
Digital textbooks require a digital device and Internet access, both
often lagging in low-income communities. And if a child lacks Internet
access at home, he or she might not be able to make much use of digital
books unless they are at school or the library. About 70 percent of
public libraries report they are the only source of a free Internet
connection in their community, according to the White House announcement
about the new digital books.
The program will offer about 10,000 books to children. Tools to
distribute the books are being developed through partnerships with
public libraries and private organizations, according to the White
House. No date was given for when the books would be available to
children – nor any word on whether the digital books come with the
tradition of a library return due-date.
