The real digital age of publishing is now upon us—and it does not feature grey-bricked Orwellian libraries, a sea of computer screens, robotic librarians and not a book in sight. Today’s publishing world is full of incredible options for consumer to ingest content, and no option seems primed to eclipse any other for market share. Yes, it appears print books are here to stay, but so are eBooks and all things digital (perhaps most notably audio, the fastest growing segment in all of publishing).
Consumers are more knowledgeable regarding eBooks than ever before, the hardware is more accessible, and distribution is as varied and robust as ever. Further, indie publishers are finding more and more success digitally, with many foregoing print altogether. So, why have eBooks not been adopted widely in K-12 schools?
While some of this has to do with hardware availability, school purchasing limitations, and general infrastructure issues, there are a few issues with educational publisher behavior that have contributed to eBooks being adopted far less in schools than in the consumer market.
