March Marketing! Community Outreach Training with Just a Little Alliteration

Another month has come and gone. As February departs, so too do the hearts, Valentine's Day candy and (hopefully) the worst of the snowstorms that the Northern Hemisphere has been experiencing. It's time to bring out the Shamrock Shakes, corned beef and Irish jigs to prepare for spring.   With a new month comes the latest opportunity to learn new marketing ideas by signing up for our live Community Outreach training on Thursday, March 7th at 12:00 (ET). Be sure to join us for this monthly opportunity to hear about creative and cost-effective ways to connect with your patrons.   Whether you're looking for ways to connect with your users in the library, the community or online, we'll be able to offer some outside of the box solutions that are sure to reach your audience. Be sure to sign up today before the session fills up. I look forward to seeing you Thursday!   Adam Sockel is a Marketing Specialist at OverDrive.

URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OverdrivesDigitalLibraryBlog/~3/Uf58pzbC2nM/

Make March Your Month with Dummies

Throughout the month of March, we’re turning “I can’t” into “I can” by offering 30-percent off over 2,000 eBooks in the popular “For Dummies’”series from John Wiley. Since 1991, this widely recognized reference brand has helped people throughout the world conquer their goals whether it be learning how to give a stellar presentation to improving your golf swing.   Within this expansive collection, you can find titles to help you learn a new instrument, prepare for a college entrance exam, plan your own wedding, practice a foreign language, or teach your old dog a new trick. For the extra ambitious type, try the “In a Day” series which offers focused, on-the-go instruction.   Check out a Dummies book and tell us what you plan to accomplish in the month of March!   For a full list of “Dummies” titles on sale, login to Content Reserve.   Annie Suhy is a Merchandising Specialist at OverDrive.

URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OverdrivesDigitalLibraryBlog/~3/4jsuTCoXyz4/

The Nook Isn’t Dead Yet, But It’s Not Selling Well So It’s On Sale Again

Barnes and Noble released their third quarter financial results today and the numbers, as expected, were not good. Overall revenues decreased by 8.8% from last year, and even worse, Nook revenues from both digital content and Nook hardware fell by a gut-numbing 26%. Digital content sales actually rose by 6.8%, so that really shows just [...]

URL: http://feeds.the-ebook-reader.com/~r/feedburner/cmWU/~3/Nc2zvZI_5ls/

Resources for Learning Microsoft OneNote

Want to learn more about using Microsoft OneNote? Check out our resource guide to get started!

URL: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2013/02/28/resources-for-learning-microsoft-onenote/

The eBook Reader with the Darkest, Boldest Fonts is…

The latest $69 basic Kindle. Surprising, eh? The cheapest ebook reader on the market is the one with the darkest and boldest fonts. It’s not even a close contest, either. It wins hands-down. You’d think that the Kindle Paperwhite with its higher resolution screen would be better. But it’s not. Fonts are thinner and sharper [...]

URL: http://feeds.the-ebook-reader.com/~r/feedburner/cmWU/~3/RXPscj_nPlE/

5 Resume Trends You Should Know About

If you are having trouble getting noticed by employers, you might want to try one of these non-traditional resumes.

URL: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2013/02/21/5-resume-trends-you-should-know-about/

Create a Facebook Page

Run a business? Part of a local organization? You may want to create a Facebook Page!

URL: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2013/02/14/create-facebook-page/

Meet the Staff: Bronwen

Meet Bronwen, one of our Instructional Designers, and learn more about working at pottery studios, Mass Effect 3, and other nerdery.

URL: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2013/02/12/meet-the-staff-bronwen/

Answers to Your Questions about MSN Messenger and Skype

Have MSN Messenger or Skype? They're about to merge. Here's some answers to questions you might have!

URL: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2013/02/07/answers-to-your-questions-about-msn-messenger-and-skype/

Office 2013 is Here!

Check out the new features of Office 2013 in our latest video.

URL: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2013/02/05/office-2013-is-here/

Goals for 2013

After a great 2012, we expect an even bigger 2013!

URL: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2013/01/31/goals-for-2013/

How to Use an ATM (and 30 Other Things You Do Every Day)

Learn about real-life tasks with our Everyday Life program.

URL: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2013/01/24/how-to-use-an-atm-and-30-other-things-you-do-every-day/

Modifying Page Numbers in Word 2010

Having trouble with page numbers in Microsoft Word? We found a solution to one of our learners' most common questions.

URL: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2013/01/17/modifying-page-numbers-in-word-2010/

OverDrive Read instant samples now live

In September, we completed rollout of a major milestone for our publishing partners: instant samples with OverDrive Read. The vast majority of EPUB titles available in the OverDrive catalog can now be sampled at thousands of library websites with the click of a button. These samples are a discovery tool for library browsers; readers can now access samples instantly from any device with a modern web browser. For our publishing partners, instant samples in OverDrive Read offer highly qualified opportunities to engage readers with title and author brands. OverDrive Read samples are flexible—able to be read on modern devices of any size, embedded into webpages, and surrounded by dynamic content. Each book sample is delivered as a persistent URL, which can be shared just like any website. OverDrive Read allows you to reach your readers on every device with targeted recommendations for what to read next. At the end of each sample, OverDrive Read is capable of presenting the reader with options to purchase the title, view similar titles, or engage more deeply with a title and/or author on websites and social media. Expect to hear more on this exciting feature in the coming months. Later this year we will be making full titles available through OverDrive Read, allowing readers with permissions to instantly enjoy an entire book. As we approach the full release, we will share more details about the ways in which OverDrive Read can help you connect readers with the books and authors they love. Stay tuned.

URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DigitalDistributionBlogOverdrive/~3/DUmzMQ7gclo/

Odd Temporal Milestones

The first Star Trek episode aired closer in time to the ratification of the 19th Amendment—guaranteeing women in the US the right to vote—than to today.

URL: http://blog.xkcd.com/2012/09/29/odd-temporal-milestones/

OverDrive Developer Portal now open

We’re happy to announce that the OverDrive Developer Portal is now open and accepting applications from interested developers. Our initial set of APIs gives third-party applications the ability to browse OverDrive digital media collections, search for titles, display detailed metadata for a given title, and determine the availability of a title within a given library collection. We’re excited to see the powerful new discovery tools our library, retail, and publishing partners develop to extend their digital catalogs to more readers around the globe. We hope you’ll take a moment to browse around the OverDrive Development Portal and read our documentation. We’ve included helpful guides to get you started, examples of real-world applications for OverDrive APIs, and an overview of the design and security standards that shaped our internal development process. We will review Developer Portal applications on a weekly basis. Approval will be based on the applicant having an existing customer relationship with OverDrive, or the applicant applying as a third-party developer agent for an OverDrive customer. For a third party (non-OverDrive customer) to be approved, the application must disclose the nature of the project and identify the specific OverDrive account(s) for which it will utilize the OverDrive APIs. All applications will be reviewed to confirm that they are within the scope and permitted uses for OverDrive APIs. Prior to gaining access to OverDrive APIs, all applicants will be required to accept the OverDrive API Terms and Conditions. If you have further questions about OverDrive APIs or the approval process, please contact us through the OverDrive Development Portal. Jeff Morgan is a Marketing Communications Specialist at OverDrive.

URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DigitalDistributionBlogOverdrive/~3/LLfU5aC_J6Q/

Extend your catalog with OverDrive Read and Streaming Audiobooks

See Book, Read Book. For the past several weeks that’s been the mantra at OverDrive. It's a vision of simplicity—an idea that drove us to develop easier ways to get more readers in front of the books they love to read and want to buy. Later this year, we'll be delivering two new services that will extend publisher catalogs to more readers on a wide range of devices: OverDrive Read and streaming audiobooks. OverDrive Read OverDrive Read is our browser-based eBook reading experience. It's built using HTML5, which offers flexibility in both use and implementation. For publishers and retailers, OverDrive Read is a brandable platform. We can build custom menus, embed OverDrive Read in branded web pages, and deliver customized social features. OverDrive Read also allows booksellers, authors, and publishers to embed eBook samples in any page on the web. From those samples, readers can purchase full access to the title from various independent, local and national booksellers. OverDrive Read also features comprehensive social integration, extending your catalogs to the worldwide community of readers. As an OverDrive publishing partner, your EPUB content is already compatible with OverDrive Read. If you have questions, please contact our Publisher Partner Services team. As an OverDrive retail partner, be sure to check back soon or get in touch with the Retail Partner Services team. We will have more information about the ways OverDrive Read can support your retail services in the near future. Streaming Audiobooks As part of our upcoming Next Generation Digital Library Platform, we announced last month that we would be introducing audiobook streaming as part of our mobile application, OverDrive Media Console. This exciting development will give us the opportunity to offer WMA audiobook titles across a wider range of devices. Streaming audiobooks also provide another avenue to increase discovery. We will be integrating the streaming service into our upcoming OverDrive Media Station, giving library patrons the opportunity to sample audiobooks within the library. OverDrive Media Station features our powerful recommendation engine, displaying related titles based on a reader’s search results. We will provide more information about our streaming audiobook service as we get closer to launch. If you're interested in extending the reach of your audiobook catalog, contact our Publisher Partner Services team.

URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DigitalDistributionBlogOverdrive/~3/RJ4v238-PfM/

A morbid Python script

Comics #493 and #893 involve actuarial tables, which are tables for calculating the probability that someone of a given age will die within a given amount of time. One evening, when I was feeling morbid, I wrote a Python script to calculate death probabilities for any collection of people: actuary.py (.txt). It takes a list of ages and genders and produces various statistics. Here’s the report for the nine living people who have walked on the moon: ~$ python actuary.py 81m 82m 80m 81m 80m 81m 76m 78m 77m There is a 5% chance of someone dying within 0.08 years (by 2012). There is a 50% chance of someone dying within 1.1 years (by 2013). There is a 95% chance of someone dying within 4.08 years (by 2016). There is a 5% chance of everyone dying within 10.78 years (by 2023). There is a 50% chance of everyone dying within 16.12 years (by 2028). There is a 95% chance of everyone dying within 22.57 years (by 2035). Probability of all dying in 1.0 year: <0.001% Probability of a death within 1.0 year: 46.32% And here’s the table for four of the main stars of the original Star Wars (Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hammill, James Earl Jones): ~$ python actuary.py 69m 55f 60m 81m 10 There is a 5% chance of someone dying within 0.42 years (by 2012). There is a 50% chance of someone dying within 4.74 years (by 2017). There is a 95% chance of someone dying within 12.83 years (by 2025). There is a 5% chance of everyone dying within 18.17 years (by 2030). There is a 50% chance of everyone dying within 31.28 years (by 2043). There is a 95% chance of everyone dying within 42.62 years (by 2055). Probability of all dying in 10.0 years: 0.272% Probability of a death within 10.0 years: 85.94% Of course, these are based on average death rates based only on age and gender. Adding more specific information about the people in question will refine the calculation. For example, I’d guess former astronauts are more likely to be in good health—and have longer life expectancies—than the rest of us.

URL: http://blog.xkcd.com/2012/07/12/a-morbid-python-script/

Groundhog Day correction

A number of people have mentioned an issue with today’s comic—in the movie Groundhog Day, it’s actually implied that Phil, Bill Murray’s character, didn’t have sex with Rita. He took her home to his room, but they woke up in the same clothes they fell asleep in. I haven’t seen the movie in a number of years, but I think they’re right—and bit of Googling suggests that I’m not the only one who was confused on that point. Groundhog Day is, like Office Space, a comedy containing a gimmick that really sticks with you, even as the rest of the story fades. Or, at least, it did with me—I’ve probably seen the movie a couple of times, but I think I’ve spent a lot more time dwelling on the time loop scenario it describes. Now that people have raised the question, I’m not even sure that I interpreted the scene this way when I was watching it. From a sci-fi point of view, the whole idea that the time loop was broken by emotional/personal development seemed kind of cheesy, but I just chalked that up to one of those things movies do because that’s how we like stories to work. Nobody wants a movie where the climax consists of an hour of excitedly inferring and testing revisions to the standard model of physics. (Or, at least, there aren’t enough of us to support a big-budget movie.) So while drawing my comic, I remembered that the time loop ended after he took Rita back to his room, and I filled in the typical romanticized Sleeping Beauty idea that I assumed had gone with it. I appreciate the corrections—in addition to being a reminder to double-check pop culture references, it’s driven home for me what a neat, original movie Groundhog Day really is. And now I wonder what kind of misconceptions I have about Ghostbusters.

URL: http://blog.xkcd.com/2012/07/02/groundhog-day-correction/

Publisher Spotlight: Baker Publishing Group

Just a few weeks ago, team OverDrive was exhibiting at the Javitz Center amidst the hustle and bustle of Book Expo America. Between participating in IDPF’s Digital Book 2012 and getting our books signed by Michael Ian Black, we were also sitting down with our publishing partners. We were happy to hear success stories from Baker Publishing Group, which publishes a wide range of Christian fiction and nonfiction for evangelical readers. We took some time post-BEA to talk with Nathan Henrion, the company's national sales manager, about Baker Publishing Group's digital content offering and its growth in the library space. OverDrive: How long have you been working with OverDrive, and what drove your initial transition into the digital marketplace? Baker Publishing Group: Baker Publishing Group began working with Overdrive in April of 2010. We had made a start in the digital marketplace in early 2009, but it took us about a year to get our ebook inventory built and our conversion system in place. OD: Have you been surprised by increased sales in a particular section of your catalog? For example, are mid and backlist titles selling more than you had anticipated? Is there a particular genre that is doing exceptionally well? BPG: The most surprising aspect of the digital marketplace (and this is thinking back to the mindset of 2010) is the uptick in backlist sales. "Backlist" and "Frontlist" are industry terms, and are not consumer terms. As long as the content is relevant, and it fulfills a reader's interest at the time they are looking for it, then an old title will perform just as well, if not better, than a new release. Now, obviously certain titles and genres age quicker than others as far as reader interest is concerned, but for us, many of our most successful titles in digital sales are those that released more than 5 years ago. One of the interesting facts about working with OverDrive in particular is that in the past 12 months Overdrive has booked sales on 74% of the titles making up our digital trade catalog. This compares to 49% of our print catalog having library sales over the same time period. Another great surprise has been the increase in international sales. We are getting our authors' content into more international libraries than ever before. The hurdles for a small to mid -size publisher to execute these placements are very high in the print environment. Not so with digital. While this is no longer a revelation, I don't believe we were expecting it back at the beginning. OD: What factors influenced the decision to work with the library market? BPG: Baker Publishing Group has always had a robust presence in the library market for print, so moving to participation with the digital side of the channel was just a natural step. We view it as a lateral move, and not a completely different paradigm. With publishers there is much contention on that point, but it is how we choose to see the landscape. OD: How have sales and promotions through OverDrive affected your digital strategy? BPG: Working with OverDrive has opened up more promotional opportunities directed to the library market. As we do not sell direct to libraries, we rely on the distributors taking promotions to market. OverDrive has offered us creative access to this process and has worked with us to offer libraries promotional opportunities that really are unparalleled in the print environment. – – To learn more about how OverDrive can help increase sales of your digital content, contact pubinfo@overdrive.com.

URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DigitalDistributionBlogOverdrive/~3/15UOKYjwqfQ/