1. Getting the most from the Norfolk ELS eBook Lending Platform!
Norfolk ELS, November 2016

2. How do we define eBooks? Noun:
An electronic version of a printed book which can be read on a computer or a specifically designed handheld device

3. How it works - the basics

4. To access the eBook library, visit:
Each school has been given logins to distribute to students and staff, as you see fit.
Please keep a list of who has which login, for your own reference.

5. Devices eBooks can be read on:
Tablets (android, apple, windows & kindle fire)
Smartphones (android and apple)
Laptops, PCs and Macs
Dedicated eReaders (e.g. kobo/nook/sony ereader – NOT kindle ereader)
Interactive whiteboards

6. Loans Like print, eBooks can be borrowed by one user at a time
The loan expires automatically after 3 weeks
You can return your eBook early if you wish
Students can borrow 1 eBook at a time

7. How do I read the eBook? On a desktop/laptop computer, you can:
stream the eBook through the browser.
On a tablet or smartphone, you can:
stream the eBook through the browser OR
use the ePlatform app

8. Reading eBooks through the browser

9. Visit: http://norfolksls.wheelers.co

10. Browse for eBooks On the Library tab, you can:
Quick search by author, title or keyword
Explore titles by category using the links

11. Accelerated Reader search
Search by:
Quiz number
Points level
Book level (enter a range to search by ZPD e.g )
Combine Book Level with LY/MY/UP

12. Double click on a book jacket if you are interested in it
Double click on a book jacket if you are interested in it. This takes you through to the eBook’s record:

13. If it is available to loan, you can borrow the title by logging in:
(If a book is greyed out, that means it is on loan to another user. You may be able to reserve the title )

14. You will enter your NSIX details here

15. Single sign-on: SKIP EXTERNAL AUTHENTICATION then enter your details here (your username and password)

16. Click ‘Borrow Now’:

17. Click ‘Read Now’ to start streaming the eBook:

18. The eBook streams automatically in the browser:
n.b. you need Internet Explorer 10 or higher, Firefox, Chrome or Safari

19. Use the Menu bar options to enhance your reading experience:
Bookmarks: insert place holders and notes in your text – available whenever you read that title online
Chapters: navigate quickly to another point in the text
Account: return to your shelf on ePlatform to return your loan early, or to read a different borrowed title

20. Settings enables you to adjust: - typeface - font size - letter, word & line spacing - text justification - columns

21. Settings also enables you to change text background colour:

22. There are suggestions for Dyslexic settings and night reading:

23. Click ‘continue reading’ to apply changes:

24. Click or highlight on a word to reveal options:

25. ‘Define’ provides a dictionary definition, including useful synonyms:

26. ‘Search’ finds other places the word is used in the text:

27. ‘Highlight’ lets you add notes:

28. The ‘Bookmarks’ page lists your notes, along with all of the quotes from the text that you highlighted:
Your notes are available to you whenever you borrow that title, or you can Print Screen into Word for reference in between loans

29. Click on ‘Library’ to return the eBook early or borrow more books:
Click here to find more books to borrow
Click here to read another book you have on loan or that you’ve borrowed before
Click here to return the loan early

30. Reading the eBook on another device
To read the eBook on another device, simply visit the site, login and visit your Shelf to reopen your eBook. It will remember your settings and place:

31. Using the ePlatform app to read online and offline on a tablet or smartphone

32. Download the ePlatform app by searching for ‘ePlatform’ within your device’s app store.

33. Once installed, open the app and search for the eBook library by clicking on ‘Find your library’:

34. Search for ‘Norfolk ELS’. Select ‘Norfolk ELS’ when it comes up:
Education Library Service
This sets it as your home library – you won’t need to search for this again
On school tablets, your IT manager will likely have already installed the app and selected this as the home library

35. This takes you to the school eBook library, where you can borrow an eBook, as normal:

36. Once you have borrowed an eBook, click ‘Read Now’, as normal:

37. The eBook will then launch automatically within the app for instant reading:
All the text adaption features are the same as before

38. Press ‘home’ to return to the app’s home page where your eBook has automatically been saved for offline reading:
This makes it easy to retrieve your eBook for continued reading

39. Class sets
Most eBooks can only be read by one person at a time, unless we have multiple copies
However, this limitation does not apply to any work that is now out of copyright (e.g. Shakespeare, Dickens, Bronte sisters, Charles Darwin etc)
These titles can be read freely by all with no limitations:

40. Why eBooks for leisure reading?
Provides 24/7 access to resources
Text adaption features make it far easier for dyslexic or struggling readers to access text
Research suggests digital reading is particularly appealing to boys and less engaged readers
The app locates a great book at the heart of students’ lives – their smartphone!
The app makes it really easy for students to continue reading their eBook, and to quickly browse and borrow more

41. Why eBooks for classroom support?
Staff can borrow eBooks and then use on the whiteboard for group discussion
Use the features to enhance lessons e.g. Use different coloured highlights on the text to pick out key points; use notes feature to ask or answer key questions and to create a list of quotations/key learning points

42. How can you ensure its success?
Mind map ideas how for how you could encourage eBook use in your school