K-8 Schools Invited to Apply for E-Books Access

K-8 schools that want to build their digital book collections may now apply to receive free access to one of OverDrive's e-book services. The 200-book "K-5 Quickstart Collection," which is normally priced at $499 per year per building, is being made available for free to up to 1,000 schools through a donation program.

OverDrive K-5 Quickstart Collection 

OverDrive offers a free digital reading platform and works with publishers, libraries, schools and retailers to distribute digital titles. The e-books made available through the donation program require no app or downloads; they can be opened in a browser at school or at home.

Titles in the collection cover fiction and non-fiction, including Mr. Popper's Penguins, the Berenstain Bears, the Code Busters Club and the "What Is" series from Britannica Educational Publishing.

School representatives — teachers, administrators and librarians — can apply to receive access through the end of the 2016-2017 school year. The donation is open to Title 1-eligible schools in the United States.

The application form is on the OverDrive website here.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • A top-down view of a person walking through a maze with walls made of glowing blue Wi-Fi symbols on dark pathways

    Navigating New E-Rate Rules for WiFi Hotspots

    Beginning in funding year 2025, WiFi hotspots will be eligible for E-rate Category One discounts. Here's what you need to know about your school's eligibility, funding caps, tracking requirements, and more.

  • glowing digital lock surrounded by futuristic dollar signs, stacks of currency, and coins, connected by neon circuit lines

    FCC Reports Strong Interest in Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program

    The Federal Communications Commission has received 2,734 applications totaling $3.7 billion in funding requests from schools, libraries, and consortia for its Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, the agency reported in a recent announcement.

  • zSpace Imagine Learning Solution

    zSpace Debuts Headset-Free AR/VR System

    Immersive learning company zSpace has announced the zSpace Imagine Learning Solution, a headset-free AR/VR laptop system designed for elementary education. The all-in-one platform integrates hardware, software, and hands-on lessons to create dynamic learning experiences for young students.

  • magnifying glass hovers high above a tablet, showing a zoomed-in view of binary code and digital circuits

    Evidence in Ed Tech: A Matter of Importance

    When evaluating which ed tech tools to adopt, evidence of impact is one of the most important factors to consider.