For Teachers, For Teachers and Students

Searching for Multiple Copies of the Same E-Book? by Kaitlin Rotella, School Outreach Librarian, Youth Educational ServicesMay 8, 2020

book covers

With New York City schools closed through the rest of the 2020 school year, educators are looking for e-books with enough copies for every student in their classrooms. The majority of our e-book titles in SimplyE, Overdrive, and Cloud Drive are made available by publishers under a one copy, one user lending model—and it’s unlikely that we would have 30 copies of any one title “on the shelf” at the same time.  Simultaneous use e-books, on the other hand, can be used by an unlimited number of users at the same time—perfect for classroom settings. 

Simultaneous use e-books are e-books that can be read by multiple users at a time with no checkout limitations or wait time. The Library has a number of digital resources featuring simultaneous use e-books that are available to students and educators with a New York Public Library card. 

Below are databases featuring simultaneous use titles, along with Librarian Picks available in each database, as chosen by NYPL librarians! (Please note that the links for specific titles above go to the NYPL catalog—to access the books at home via the database, visit the link for each database and search for the title there. Also, items in digital resources are subject to change.)

BookFlix

BookFlix is a Scholastic resource for students in grades Pre-K–3, and pairs fictional video stories with nonfiction titles. BookFlix also features comprehension activities, as well as titles in Spanish. 

Librarian Picks

FreedomFlix

FreedomFlix, a Scholastic resource for students in grades 5–9, features dynamic and engaging e-books about defining moments in American history. 

Librarian Picks

TumbleBooks

TumbleBooks features animated, talking books for students in grades K–6, and provides comprehension activities, such as puzzles and games, as well as books in other languages.

Librarian Picks

TumbleBookCloud Jr. 

TumbleBookCloud Jr. features chapter books, graphic novels, read-alongs, and videos for students in grades K–6.

Librarian Picks

TumbleBookCloud

TumbleBookCloud, also sometimes known as TeenBookCloud, features books, audiobooks, graphic novels, and videos for students in grades 6–12.

Librarian Picks

 
View all posts by Kaitlin Rotella

Comments

Patron-generated content represents the views and interpretations of the patron, not necessarily those of The New York Public Library. For more information see NYPL's Website Terms and Conditions.

digital books with unlimited simultaneous users

Submitted by Liz Goldfarb (not verified) on May 18, 2020 - 5:45pm

Looking for a list of middle school unlimited simultaneous user fiction titles as per your article. Clicking on more information takes me to the nypl catalog does not show what titles are unlimited simultaneous use. Thanks Liz Goldfarb

For middle school fiction,

Submitted by Carrie McBride on May 19, 2020 - 11:49am

For middle school fiction, click on "TumbleBookCloud" above, on the next page, click on "Connect to database", then there will be different tabs—fiction is the tab on the far left. Note that you need an NYPL library card for this resource. If you don't have one but are a New York State resident, you can apply for a digital card via our SimplyE app. https://www.nypl.org/books-music-movies/ebookcentral/simplye