At ePlatform we’re always evolving and innovating to help schools inspire the next generation of readers. Research shows that print and digital resources complement each other in Modern Library Learning Environments (MLLE) and instill confidence in reading in multiple formats. Recent studies highlight that reading on devices better engages boys, less keen or able readers, visually impaired or Dyslexic readers and those with digital preferences. This is where ePlatform really delivers – the platform’s enhanced settings are designed to help overcome these reading challenges and support literacy outcomes. ePlatform goes beyond library walls, it is school wide and supports the entire school learning environment.
Here’s why over 1,000 schools and public libraries across 15 countries have chosen ePlatform
A successful school eBook library is nourished with great content and smart software that supports high levels of engagement with learning. We help you deliver this without charging set up fees and exorbitant ‘hosting’ fees.
ePlatform delivers on:
- Huge range of titles (350,000+) to match the different interests, ages, cultural diversity and reading capability of your students. Delve into a global range with the latest bestsellers and indie authors, plus local diversity.
- Great, local support – we provide a high level of support to ensure you and your students get the best out of ePlatform.
- Attractive pricing enabling you to invest in content, not hosting fees.
- Innovative, easy-to-use reading App. Simple one-touch reading and browsing means the hardest part is deciding which eBook to read..
- We help you market eBooks to your readers with proven marketing techniques and promotional packs, designed to engage and excite your students.
- Collection Builder Compilations (tailored for your member’s ages, gender and location) – drawing from active ePlatform schools or libraries most like yours – we deliver you the, most borrowed eBook titles from comparable libraries, and the most popular compilation lists. This is collection development with the ‘answer sheet’.
Yes (we haven’t found any that don’t yet!). Following an eBook sale, we simply provide you with a free brief MARC Record that you import into your Library Management System (within seconds) to populate it with a title record. This brief record includes a unique hyperlink that allows students / patrons to connect directly from your existing catalogue (OPAC) to the eBook on the ePlatform. Students/ Patrons can also browse your ePlatform remotely from anywhere to borrow and download a title.
Thousands of eBook titles specifically licensed for library lending are available through Wheelers for ePlatform. With a huge range of fiction and non-fiction titles to choose from (over 350,000 titles at last count), including educational and region specific titles, you can populate your ePlatform to suit the exact preferences of your students or library members. You can view a selection of featured titles and publishers on our website here or contact us for a login to see the full range of titles available.
To read a library eBook on a tablet or smartphone you will need to access the ePlatform app or download other reader software.
The ePlatform app is a dedicated eBook lending app personalized to your library. It allows users to read eBooks anywhere, any time on multiple devices. The user-friendly interface includes full search and filtering options to make finding titles simple. Library administrators have access to extensive title and patron reporting.
To read eBooks on a computer or laptop (PC or Mac) you can use your web browser to read titles online or offline through the ePlatform website.
If you have a Kobo eReader, Sony eReader or Nook eReader you will need to download Adobe Digital Editions and create an Adobe ID.
This will depend heavily on what authentication option you are using for the most part they are authenticated against either our database of your users or are remotely authenticated against your schools services. To find out more information on individual authentication options please visit the authentication tab above.
Absolutely. Firstly, there’s security for your library collection. We set up link between ePlatform and your library management system so that members are required to login and be authenticated prior to lending titles. Secondly, ePlatform keeps the eBooks secure and protected by DRM – Digital Rights Management. DRM is encryption technology that protects the copyright of titles and is required by the publishers who provide the eBooks.
Flexible admin controls include the ability for you to set eBook loan parameters from 1 day to 60 days and to define the maximum number of eBooks a student/ patron can borrow (or reserve) at once. Furthermore, and importantly for schools, the librarian can restrict borrowing of certain titles by age (as long as your library management system or school database stores the year/ age of the student). Librarians can also access a number of free usage reports. Public Libraries also have a facility to charge for best sellers.
In this context “ownership” means that you acquire the right to access the content of the eBook through the ePlatform. And because we don’t ask for any minimum annual commitment to access your ePlatform, you won’t have to worry about spending a certain amount with us each year to maintain access to your eBooks. Please note there are some publishers that restrict access to their books. Any variations are described on a per publisher basis against the title when purchasing. In these cases we pass on the rights as far as we are able to. Your agreement with Wheelers sets out terms and conditions which apply to eBook access.
No. You simply buy the eBooks you want. Providing you meet our general terms and conditions which apply to eBook access (to protect copyright), you will continue to have ongoing access to your ePlatform and your eBooks. That’s reassuring!
Our eBooks are specifically licensed for library lending, so titles can be loaned to different users within your library/ school community. This allows greater freedom than buying eBooks from retailers as these eBooks are legally only licensed for single use (using them in a library/school environment would actually breach the terms of the license you have purchased from them).
The ePlatform, like other eBook platforms, licenses the Adobe Content Server to manage the DRM (encryption) of eBooks being lent out to library members. Adobe charges us a per loan license fee every time a loan is made and we look to cover this hard cost with the DRM/hosting fee of £1.50 per eBook (invoiced at the time the eBook is purchased).
For a small support fee, we’ll set up the patron authentication process to ensure that every student or patron that borrows eBooks through ePlatform is a valid user. The process simply involves a patron logging on with a username and password so they can be authenticated (or not) to borrow and download eBooks. To learn more about Patron Authentication and the different options please refer our Patron Authentication page.
As Public Libraries often have more complex library management systems and IT requirements, Public Libraries pay a small set up support cost of £250 (exclusive VAT) which includes integrating ePlatform into their library management system, and adding a full banner to their personalised ePlatform. We also provide free promotional resources online and PR support to help promote the ePlatform to their library members.
If you can not find the answer here, our team will be more than happy to give you the information you need.