NEWS RELEASES > JUNE 5, 2020
BY SHANNON MAUGHAN, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
For the past couple of months, as the world has grappled with stay-at-home orders and self-isolation in light of the COVID-19 crisis, PW has been reporting on the many ways that publishers and education companies are providing resources for educators, students, and families doing schoolwork at home. We checked in with a number of these companies to see how their efforts are going, what they’ve learned from this experience, and what summer and a new school year might look like.
Taking stock
Across the board, content providers we contacted in both the educational and trade segments of the industry reported that they’ve seen very high demand for their free digital resources since mid-March, when many schools and libraries were first forced to close their doors.
Students who are able to access digital materials from home “are definitely taking advantage of the free resources we’ve made available,” Britten Follett, Executive Vice President of Follett School Solutions, says. Since the COVID-19 crisis began, she notes, “We’ve seen nearly 10,000 schools sign up for our free offer of Classroom Ready Collections [standards-aligned open educational resources in various subjects] and nearly 30,000 register for access to the 1,000 free Lightbox [interactive eBook] titles.”
United Way Rock River Valley and Follett Content Partner to Donate 2,000 Books to Rockford Students
April 2, 2026
United Way Rock River Valley and Follett Content are proud to partner on placing 2,000 new books directly into the hands of Rockford Public School students. Follett Content's donation fulfills the entire goal of United Way's Books for Brighter Futures...
Read more
2026 Approved & Ready: NYC Library Solutions
March 23, 2026
New York City, NY., Mar. 23, 20206 – Follett Content is an approved vendor for New York City (NYC) school libraries, enabling NYC educators to confidently place library material orders through a trusted, established partner. Through this contract, Follett Content...
Read more
Follett Content Accelerates Public Library Strategy
February 19, 2026
McHenry, Ill., Feb. 19, 2026 – Building on its September 2025 introduction into the public library market, Follett Content today announced a significant next step in its growth strategy: the addition of widely respected library-market veterans and a series of new technology...
Read more
Follett Content and Sora Student Reading App Announce Landmark Partnership
December 9, 2025
We are providing an improved experience for your readers by making digital content available through Sora, the award-winning student reading app by OverDrive.
Read more
All4Ed's Future Ready Schools Launches Future Ready Librarians Framework 3.0
October 16, 2025
Washington, D.C., Oct. 16, 2025 — All4Ed’s Future Ready Schools® (FRS) today announced the release of the Future Ready Librarians® Framework 3.0, an updated framework that positions school librarians as catalysts for learning, innovation, and equity in today’s rapidly changing...
Read more
Follett Content Expands to Public Libraries
September 23, 2025
McHenry, Ill., Sep. 23, 2025 – Follett Content, a trusted partner of PreK-12 school librarians worldwide and leader in educational content and services, today announced it will support the children’s and Young Adult (YA) public library space. This initiative stems from the company’s...
Read more