The Evolving Role of Libraries in the Digital Age – Finale

An integral aspect of community publishing is the need for a platform that allows the authors to create, upload and share their eBooks.

A short while back, our company, Evident Point collaborated with Richmond Public Library on a project called Create [&] Learn, which we also spoke about during the annual British Columbia Libraries Association (BCLA) Connect Conference this year.

Some of the features of this platform are:

1. It takes you from reading to interacting- Conventional platforms allow you to upload your static eBooks, which is a great way to share your story. However, with so many mediums vying for your reader’s attention, added functionality such as the ability to embed videos, audio clips, quizzes, and interactive widgets can exponentially boost engagement and enhance the reader experience.

Create [&] Learn allows you to do just that; it allows you to create interactive eBooks that will capture the interest of your reader and enable you to share your unique story.

2.Return to your document anytime  Once you begin adding interactive elements to your document, you can return to make updates anytime. In case you’ve already uploaded you content, you could always browse through hundreds of other documents uploaded by others.

 

3. Simple and intuitive One of the main reasons that people don’t publish their eBooks is that the process is too complicated. Create [&] Learn has a simple and visually appealing design that allows you to add layers of interactivity within a few clicks.

Although self-publishing stories and novels is one of the uses of this platform, there are many more:

• Club executive committee members can share group information, meeting times and recent videos on this platform.
• Students can post reports, projects or homework on the link and share it with their teachers or classmates.
• Libraries can post instructional material and workshop updates for their patrons.

4. Multiple Users-  This feature allows the user to leverage the power of collaboration. Users can seek feedback or approvals from their colleagues in a seamless manner via the comment feature, reducing delays that might accompany conventional publishing processes.

 

Looking at this transition one way, digital technologies are bringing libraries full circle.

 

According to Fred Lerner, author of The Story of Libraries, certain libraries in ancient Syria acted as a training ground for scribes and existed as a hub for not only propagating knowledge but also creating it. Especially during the Renaissance, numerous monasteries and royal libraries had scribes who would produce their own work and copy manuscripts. This trend continued until the invention of the printing press, after which the scribes were no longer required, reducing the role of libraries as publishing centers.

So in a way, we are experiencing a historic movement. A time when individuals are once again empowered to express their creativity, contribute to the community and share their story!

So what is your story?