Technology Headlines

Brain Hive, LLC Unveils On-Demand eBook Service for U.S. K-12 Schools

Brain Hive, LLC — Thursday, August 16, 2012

Trade and School Library Publishers Offer Titles to Schools for $1 per Checkout
 
Minneapolis, Minn. (August 16, 2012) - Brain Hive, LLC, a private Minneapolis-based education company, announced today that its on-demand eBook lending service is now available with a nationwide rollout to support rejuvenated library collections and back-to-school reading in K-12 schools. The online service, eponymously named Brain Hive™, offers unlimited access to a large eBook collection valued at over $100,000. Students and educators may check out eBooks from Brain Hive on demand, while the school pays just $1.00 for each book circulated-a Brain Hive Buck™. Membership to the service is free to schools. Since its June announcement, nearly 100 schools across the country have registered, and the company expects hundreds more to join this fall.

Developed in partnership with Impelsys, a global leader in providing electronic content delivery solutions, Brain Hive is the first on-demand eBook rental service for schools and instantly expands a school's eBook collection with access to thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, as well as printable activities, teaching resources, and Accelerated Reader quizzes from Renaissance Learning. Brain Hive is the first eBook platform to link with the AR Enterprise platform to support lifelong reading achievement.

Brain Hive includes titles from respected children's trade and school library publishers including Random House Children's Books, Open Road Integrated Media, Charlesbridge Publishing, Lee & Low Books, Lerner Publishing Group, Andersen Press USA, Gecko Press, The Creative Company, The Kane Press, Red Chair Press, and Stoke Books. Brain Hive will release dozens of new titles and bring on new publishers every month offering a dynamic, continually updated content library for schools.

Brain Hive was developed to meet the unique needs and gaps that exist today in the school market for eBook availability, discoverability, ease-of-use, and affordability. With Brain Hive, schools don't spend limited education dollars on eBooks that don't circulate but rather pay only for the books being read by their students and teachers. Brain Hive changes the eBook purchasing paradigm, making it possible for schools to revitalize their library collections with thousands of titles and no investment risk.

"With Brain Hive, you pay for what you use and buy just what you need. It's an out-of-the box and creative pricing model that sets a new standard." said Carolyn Foote, district librarian, Eanes ISD in Austin, Texas, and Brain Hive advisory team member.

Brain Hive was designed for use in school and at home using a web browser. The service is compatible with PC and Mac computers, as well as Android tablets and iPad® which has seen tremendous growth in the school market. Brain Hive will also have a native iPad® eReader App available for free download in the Apple App store.

Membership registration is now open. New members receive 10 Brain Hive Bucks equivalent to 10 complimentary eBook checkouts. More information and membership sign-up is available at www.brainhive.com.

About Brain Hive, LLC
Brain Hive™ provides an innovative eBook rental solution for K-12 schools, offering a simple and economical alternative to the traditional methods for eBook procurement. Schools pay just $1 each time a title is checked out from a large online eBook collection from children's publishers. The Brain Hive administrator can easily manage content, spending and access with user-friendly online tools. For a media kit, more information, to view a "how it works" video, or to sign-up for free membership, visit www.brainhive.com or call 855.554.HIVE.

Contact: Terri Soutor, Vice President, 612-756-8104, publicity@brainhive.com