An e-Library at the International School of Dusseldorf

A testimonial by Stuart Crouch

May 2015

Like many school libraries, at the International School of Düsseldorf, we faced the prospect of setting up an eBook Library with trepidation. eBooks in the lending library situation are still something of a disruptive technology, with publishers, vendors and platform developers still struggling to catch up with the demand from customers. We piloted several products, but with each there were problems relating to the availability of high quality school library books in electronic format, purchasing regulations that made the products unattractive, or electronic platforms that were technically challenging.

We were pleased, therefore, when Browns Books, one of our valued and long-standing book suppliers, developed VLE books. As an educational supplier, BBFS knows what librarians and teachers are looking for and what students require in terms of quality books for the school market. As an international school we have a need for products with a world view, doubly so as an International Baccalaureate school.

We have now been using the VLE platform for two years. As well as fiction eBooks for personal reading, we have been delighted to see how students have adapted to using non-fiction eBooks in the classroom setting. We are confident that take-up will continue to grow and are pleased to have a reliable educational partner such as Browns Books.