The first Google e-books integrated e-reader

I just came across an interesting story about the first Google e-books integrated reader that has been developed and will be put on sale at Target stores on July 17th. This might be a good product for foundation librarians to look into so that they can provide their clients with another way to access Google books.

A call for providing e-readers to students

A short article on PBS' Need to Know blog discuses how Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York is calling for the provision of e-readers to public students. By Weiner's estimation, the use of digital textbooks could save public schools thousands of dollars by eliminating the purchase of print books that cost about $137/pupil in Weiner's home city of New York.

The switch to e-readers would of course be a big boon to manufacturers who are trying to reach a textbook market worth almost $10 billion.