The recently launched Lynn University Digital Press is the only university press in Florida, and one of a few nationally, that’s custom designed for the Apple ecosystem and solely focused on the production of faculty-written e-books.
Beginning with seven e-books in 2013, Lynn faculty members expect to have more than 40 this fall. The books are embedded into iTunes U courses, and students download them for free.
“The model of having faculty write and create the texts they use in class is an innovation that not only reduces textbook costs for students, but also increases faculty and student engagement with the content,” said Chris Boniforti '02, Lynn’s CIO.
Overseen by Amy Filiatreau, Lynn Library director, the digital press facilitates the publishing process by allowing faculty to focus on what they do best—creating engaging content—while other experts provide editing, design and copyright compliance.
By creating their own textbooks, faculty can concentrate on what they view as essential aspects of a course and have a deep connection to, and thorough knowledge of, the content. Students gain a rich, multi-sensory experience with the content, as opposed to merely reading words on a traditional printed page. The content and tone of the faculty-authored e-books are geared specifically for the Lynn student and the Lynn curriculum, increasing the odds for college success.
The digital press is expected to also significantly enhance Lynn’s sustainability efforts by replacing traditional printing, shipping and inventory practices with immediate access to digital content.
Long-term plans include an outside peer review process and, possibly, acceptance of outside submissions.
