Students, faculty, and other customers and members of the UConn Co-op no longer have to choose between reading digital works and supporting their local bookstore: the UConn Co-op is now selling Google eBooks online.
Google launched its e-book program on Monday, and is partnering with the American Booksellers Association so independent bookstores can provide an easy way for their customers to discover, read, and buy e-books at competitive prices.
“More and more of our customers are buying e-readers and are looking to purchase e-books,” says Suzy Staubach, manager of general books at the UConn Co-op. “Google eBooks now allows us to remain the store of choice for our loyal customers who are reading digital, and to serve new customers.”
“This partnership with Google allows independent bookstores that are our members to better compete with corporate retailers on selection, price, and convenience,” said Michael Tucker, president of the American Booksellers Association. “It levels the playing field.”
A Google eBook is a new form of cloud-based digital book that allows readers to access their libraries (the collection of digital works they have purchased) on almost any device with an Internet connection from one single repository, regardless of where the e-book was purchased.
The page position while reading is saved across all devices so the reader can pick up reading where he or she left off, even on a different device.
Google is offering hundreds of thousands of titles for sale, ranging from new releases and bestsellers in every category to classics in the public domain.
Because Google eBooks work with many different devices – tablets, eReaders, smartphones, computers, even most e-ink devices – consumers are free to shop from a variety of retailers rather than being bound to one retailer. This opens up a wealth of indie recommendations and bestsellers to avid e-book readers.
In addition to eBooks, readers can search through a database of five million titles of print books at the Co-op’s website; peruse Co-op picks and books by faculty authors, bestsellers, and the Indie Next List; and learn about upcoming events.
