This is a periodic offering with updates and information on the GBA’s activities, including products, tools, and guidance relating to every stage of the book supply chain.
News and Updates
Global Digital Library Gets a New Look!
In October, the Global Digital Library, a GBA flagship initiative, got a whole new look and feel!
What is the same:
The books! The GDL still has over 5000 books in 72 languages
What is new:
The look now matches the modern style of the Freelearning cross-platform search engine for openly licensed educational materials.
Books can now be grouped into collections - around topic, reading level, contributor, and more.
The books will be accessed with a new embedded e-reader that looks the same, but has new functionality that will make GDL books available to web developers throughout the world.
The GDL has temporarily paused translation on the platform as it transitions to a simpler, streamlined system that will support even more languages, set to launch in early 2021.
The Alliance is excited to see this flagship grow.
GBA Seeks New Chair
As the term of the Alliance’s first chair, Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly, comes to an end the GBA now seeks nominations to fill the role of Chair, a three-year term beginning January 2021.
The GBA Chair will work with GBA's new Deputy Chair, Scott Walter, to lead the Steering Committee to perform its key duties and responsibilities. The Chair will also act as liaison between the Board and the Secretariat and serve as advisor to the Secretariat leadership.
If you or anyone you know is interested in this opportunity, please apply.
In August, the GBA began offering a new way to engage with the Alliance - as a member. Members sign a pledge and receive our communications, but they can also become eligible for GBA Steering Committee and Working Group positions, and for opportunities to promote their organizations’ work. Most importantly, members contribute to transforming the lives of children by improving the book supply chain.
Webinar: How the Business of Books Can Advance Literacy
On International Literacy Day (Sept 8th), the Global Book Alliance hosted a webinar, a cross-sectoral panel that looked at the role of book access in early grade reading. Audience members learned about how the business of books – writing, procuring, printing and distributing – can have an impact on fulfilling the Global Book Alliance's ambitious commitment to universal literacy by 2030.
Help the GBA Develop its Collection of Literacy and Book Resources
The Global Book Alliance is beginning its collection of resources and needs your help to make it a one-stop shop for research and guidance related to the crucial role of books in every stage of the book chain!
If you have an article, white paper, opinion piece, or training focused on reading materials and/or the book supply chain that you would like to see shared on the GBA site, please reach out to comms@globalbookalliance.org. In your submission, please include:
Using ICT To Implement Universal Design For Learning
The purpose of the Global Reading Network paper is to facilitate the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and GBA members will be interested to learn how technology such as digital books, sign language video books, and free platforms can support foundational skills acquisition for students with disabilities.
Learning For Uncertain Futures: The Role Of Textbooks, Curriculum, And Pedagogy
Innovative curriculum, textbooks and pedagogy can promote students’ ability to flourish in rapidly changing, uncertain times. This paper defines strong textbook content as academic concepts complemented by examples of relevance to students’ lives, with particular emphasis on examples that support positive student agency.
Developing a Passion for Writing and Storytelling in Young Children
The Global Book Alliance worked with Google for Education on #StoryAThon2020. This free online event challenged students to write a story for the chance to be published on the ReadAlong app.
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