README: More things to read on your phone
We are excited to share this issue of README, an e-newsletter covering digital happenings from around The New York Public Library. If you would like to receive future issues by email, add your email address now.
From Tony Ageh, Chief Digital Officer
It's been a busy summer for the Library's digital team. First, we released SimplyE, our new e-reading app for iOS and Android. I hope you'll check it out. We're also previewing updates to NYPL's website, discussing what we learned at our June hackathon, and exploring new ways to share our digital collections on Twitter.
On a personal note, I want to thank you for welcoming me these past few months as I learned my way around the Library and the city. It's been such a privilege to have an up-close look at NYPL's heritage and history, and I look forward to leading the digital teams as we strive to build on that legacy.
Tony Ageh, Chief Digital Officer
The New York Public Library
New App Gives Access to 300,000 E-Books from NYPL
The New York Public Library just released SimplyE, an app that lets NYPL cardholders browse, borrow, and read more than 300,000 e-books from the Library's collections. We invite you to download the initial release for iOS or Android and use your NYPL card number and PIN to log in.
Over the past five years, NYPL's e-circulation has jumped 241%. As we've watched e-books become increasingly popular, we've been looking for ways to make e-reading easier. Previously, NYPL cardholders had to switch between two or more e-reading apps and use additional software to access the Library's full collection. SimplyE gives readers the same level of access in just one app.
We're also adding additional features to the app, including a Kindle Fire version, a desktop reader, an MP3 audiobook format, page bookmarking, and text annotations. We always welcome your feedback. Visit "More" / "Help" / "Report an Issue" in the app to send a message to Library staff for follow-up.
SimplyE was developed based on open-source code that can be used by any public library system, and it was funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Open Audio Weekend, June 25–26
On June 25 and 26, the Library welcomed developers, designers, data scientists, audio producers, and others to a two-day hackathon designed to advance audio accessibility and explore future uses of media archives online. This event built upon our work on Together We Listen, a project in partnership with The Moth to crowdsource corrections to computer-generated transcripts, which was generously supported by a Knight Foundation prototype grant.
ICYMI: News from around the Library
⚓️ https://t.co/XJH5WGcDI6 — NYPL Emoji Bot (@NYPLEmoji) August 16, 2016
We're bringing together our love for emoji and NYPL Digital Collections with a new Twitter bot: @NYPLEmoji. Tweet your favorite emoji to @NYPLEmoji, and the bot will reply with a corresponding image from our digital collections.
NYPL President Tony Marx wrote that "there can be no full equality without digital equality" in his op-ed in The New York Times, calling for expanding internet access across New York City.
NYPL's Digital Collections web platform won the Amazon Web Services (AWS) City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge in the Best Practices category. This award recognizes public sector organizations that use AWS to increase access to content while reducing cost and increasing resiliency and availability of the underlying systems.
Photographers and dancers recently descended upon The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts for a one-of-a-kind event: #CamerasAndDancers. Dancers from the Parsons Dance Company and the Paul Taylor Dance Company joined Jacob Jonas the Company, social influencer and photographer Dave Krugman, and other photographers and Instagrammers to put their own unique spin on the spaces in and around LPA. Check out the photos.
Look and Listen
Explore the Library's Digital Collections for more.
Listen to the latest episode of NYPL podcast The Librarian Is In and get the latest reading recommendations.
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Read E-Books with SimplyE
With your library card, it's easier than ever to choose from more than 300,000 e-books on SimplyE, The New York Public Library's free e-reader app. Gain access to digital resources for all ages, including e-books, audiobooks, databases, and more.
If you don’t have an NYPL library card, New York State residents can apply for a digital card online or through SimplyE (available on the App Store or Google Play).
Need more help? Read our guide to using SimplyE.