Harry Potter E-Books to be Available to Schools and Libraries
Books
Posted by: Mel
February 27, 2012, 07:37 PM
Pottermore and OverDrive, "a leading distributor for the school and library market," have entered into an agreement that will allow the entire Harry Potter series to be freely available to students and library patrons:
OverDrive director of marketing David Burleigh said the e-books and
audiobooks are not yet available, though libraries and schools can
pre-order them. The “go-live date” is to be announced, he said.
Worldwide, the e-books will be available in ePub on PCs, Macs, Android
devices, iPhones, iPads and Blackberries, plus reading devices including
the Kindle and Nook, with Kindle support in the US only. The audiobooks
will be available in MP3 format.
Both the CEO's of Pottermore and OverDrive discussed this new arrangement:
Pottermore c.e.o. Charlie Redmayne said: "We are keen to support
public and school libraries, and OverDrive, as one of the leading
suppliers in this market, provides us with a global network that helps
us achieve this, as well as encouraging the discovery of these amazing
books across the world."
OverDrive c.e.o. and president Steve Potash said: “J K Rowling’s
Harry Potter is a once-a-lifetime phenomenon and has been an extremely
significant catalyst for reading and literacy for current and future
generations. We are honoured to bring this beloved storytelling
experience digitally to public and school libraries worldwide.”
You can read the rest of the article here.
Many thanks to Max and roonwit for owling!
14 Comments
10471 Points
Yes, the series is phenomeniall! Siriusly, I love what they’re doing here, letting it be available in all forms but I’ll always read it via my traditional books. (:
194 Points
Unlike new editions of the books, this is something I can pass on, but it’s great that new generations that use these less than traditional means of reading can experience the greatest story ever told. They haven’t been too clear about the availability of the British versus American English editions, except to say only the U.S will have it for Kindle…
18710 Points
I’m still a person who’d rather pick up a book and resd then something on screen. Just doesnt have the same feeling. =/
175 Points
I’m looking forward to it. I actually had heard about this beforehand though. Volunteering at the library FTW!
871 Points
That is not good news to Kindle owners in the UK!
I’d like to be able to purchase the ebooks rather than just borrow them from my library. I’ve read the books. I have multiple copies (paperback and hardback, US and UK), but I’d love to put them on my Kindle permanently.
926 Points
This is great! Another way to make people read! However I too will probably prefer to read from the proper books. :D
4208 Points
I am glad that librairies in schools will be able to order ebooks of Harry Potter. They are such great stories!
33 Points
My OverDrive has them on pre-release. Yes, yes, yes.
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2012/2/27/harry-potter-e-books-to-be-available-to-schools-and-libraries
If you want to read the article, there is the page.
Maybe beta will be over by the end of April.
42 Points
I’m really excited about the ebooks. I really love ink-and-paper books, but my room is getting filled up. I have the paper versions of the Harry Potter books, of course, and still read them and will keep them. Having the ebooks would be cool, too.
I’m glad they’ll be available to schools and libraries, so it gives more people the opportunity to read.
49 Points
This is really nice for someone like me. Having a traditional book is nice but I travel a lot so it’s a lot easier for me to throw my iPad into my carry on and have all of my books.
4133 Points
Good idea but a physical book is always better! :)
1882 Points
Yes physical books are better but when it becomes a problem reading small print, an E book is wonderful for enlarging the print. I have been waiting it seems like forever to be able to read the books again.
79300 Points
About time that!
Yes, the series is phenomeniall! Siriusly, I love what they’re doing here, letting it be available in all forms but I’ll always read it via my traditional books. (: