Encyclopædia Britannica Science Library
Through a licensing agreement with Chicago-based Encyclopedia Britannica, Publications International developed a six-volume SDX-enabled science library, which was first published in fall 2010. The library demonstrates the ways in which SDX-enabling can enhance and refresh backlist titles. The creative staff at PIL selected pages and spreads from the book set’s original 16 volumes and organized them into six 80-page books
- Animals
- Space
- Under the Sea
- Dinosaurs, Reptiles and Birds
- Earth
- Humans
While the books were originally created for ages 10, the SDX-enabled library makes this visually compelling information accessible to people with a range of reading abilities. Pages open up because printed captions are minimized, while the density of information provided increased with hours of audio. Every spread includes at least one learning game that helps students review the material covered and perhaps discover something they missed. Words usually included in a glossary at the back of the book are available with a touch of the reader pen when users encounter them in the text.
Michael Ross, Senior Vice President of Encyclopedia Britannica, recently told SDX that enabling the books developed a new market and new fan base for the science library. The books have won top industry awards. “This technology created an entirely new life for these illustrated science books,” he said.
Publications International reports excellent sell through for the library during its first holiday season in 2010 and expects repeat strong sales in 2011.