According to a news release, Columbia’s library is now among over 400 public and campus libraries across the country that have adopted the platform, which provides users access to library e-content offerings and institutional digital repositories. The platform is used at campuses such as New York University (NYU) and the University of California, among others.
Columbia’s Associate Vice President of Technology and Preservation Robert Cartolano said in a public statement that faculty, students and staff will now have access to hundreds of thousands of e-books through the app.
“There are many reasons why we began working with Palace but ultimately it was our common goal to maximize access to e-content, increase literacy and reduce the equity gap,” he said. “All of which ultimately improves the academic reading experience.”
James English, director of business development at The Palace Project, noted in the announcement that students and faculty have become increasingly reliant on devices such as tablets and smartphones to access reading coursework and conduct research. The announcement said the app is available on iOS and Android.
“The Palace Project is unique in that it provides academic material access and reading where users are — whether they are on or off campus — using just their university login. No need for complex VPN software or content sideloading into third-party reading systems,” he said in a public statement.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story misstated The Palace Project's name.
