The NYU Libraries have launched a pilot project that will make over 150,000 scholarly titles available to students and faculty via mobile devices. As a part of this University-wide beta test, NYU users can now download and read ebooks in SimplyE, an eReader app available for iOS and Android phones and tablets.
Through the SimplyE app, users can access coursebooks, ebooks, and reference works from major publishers. The open-source software is a collaborative development that will benefit all libraries using SimplyE.
The pilot project will run through August 2021. During this phase, the NYU Libraries will conduct testing and collect feedback to improve the service. Feel free to report any feedback through our user survey or email jira.edatabases@nyu.edu.
The app provides easy access to over 150,000 ebooks on your mobile device and reduces the number of logins needed. There is no need to log into Adobe or publisher accounts. Just install the SimplyE app on your phone or tablet and log in with your NYU netID.
You can read ebooks provided by the NYU Libraries in a simple, easy-to-use app while supporting library-developed open-source software. Your feedback can help improve and develop new functionality in the app.
"I've been reading more ebooks from my public library, especially during the pandemic. I'm thrilled to now have access to so many NYU library ebooks in SimplyE,” said Harini Kannan, a first-year graduate student in Steinhardt’s Sociology of Education program. “Almost all the books assigned in my current NYU class are available in my SimplyE app as well as through a web browser."
Use the SimplyE Research Guide to learn more about installing the SimplyE app.
This pilot project will include approximately 150,000 ebooks for NYU users to access in the SimplyE app. These titles are a small portion of over 2 million ebooks available in the NYU Libraries online catalog.
Through the app, NYU users can also access ebook and audiobook collections from local public libraries, including New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library.
To make this pilot project possible, the NYU Libraries are partnering with Proquest Ebook Central to provide the ebook EPUB files and metadata integration; LYRASIS to provide the backend infrastructure software (Library Simplified) and implementation of the SimplyE app and SAML/Single Sign-on authentication; and the New York Public Library to provide software development of SimplyE and Library Simplified. SimplyE is open-source software and uses many open standards, including OPDS 2.0, ODL, LCP, and EPUB.
NYU and Columbia University are also collaborating with LYRASIS to develop features such as single sign-on authentication to offer academic users easy access and more control of privacy and security.
“NYU Libraries is pleased that Proquest and LYRASIS, developing upon open software and open standards, have made SimplyE a part of the NYU ebook environment,” said Bill Maltarich, Head of the NYU Libraries Collection Development. "They've given us expanded reading possibilities today and pointed the way toward new services built upon this system tomorrow.”
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