iPads in the Classroom - More To Books Than the iBook Store

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One advantage of the iPad is its versatility in dealing with books.  There is a convenience factor in having one device to handle both eBooks and audiobooks.  However, the fact that pdf files can be added to the device is a big bonus!

eBooks
Apple uses the ePub format for eBooks.  This means you are able to find eBooks from many other sources outside the iBook store and use them on your iPad.  These other books will even display on your “Bookshelf” in the iBooks app.

There are many advantages of using the ePub books. You can look up word definitions, annotate notes, highlight text & create bookmarks simply by clicking on the text.  (A pop-up displays with these choices.)  To add ePub files to your iPad:

  1. Find the desired ePub books online and download them to your computer (note where you download them so you can find them!)
  2. In iTunes, go to the File Menu and select Add File to Library.
  3. Find and select the downloaded book, making sure you get the ePub file (here I am adding Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women)
  4. It will add it to your iTunes Library under the Books icon (Note: If the Books icon is not visible, it will show up after you add the first book.)

    PDF Documents
    In addition to ePub Books, PDF documents can be loaded onto the iPad.  These will also be added to the iBook app.  Adding PDF documents follows exactly the same steps as adding the ePub books above.  Of course, if you are adding your own PDF documents you will not need to go get them from the Internet.

    By default, PDF documents have their own Bookshelf as it categorizes them separate from the ePub books.  To access them in the iBooks app, when looking at your bookshelf click on "Collections" (it is right next to "Store") in the upper left corner.  You should see choices of "Books" and "PDFs" to select from.  It is here that you can create your own collection categories if there is another way you would like to categorize your materials.

    AudioBooks
    Apple iTunes uses the ACC format for audio by default.  However, the following formats are also compatible:  M4A, M4B, M4P, MP3, WAV, Audible (formats 2, 3, & 4), Apple Lossless, and AIFF.

    Follow these steps to get your Audio format books into iTunes:
    1. Find the desired audio books and download them to your computer (note where you download them so you can find them!).  If you have a built-in audio player in your browser, you will need to right-click on the file link and choose to save it.

    2. In iTunes, go to the File Menu -> Add File to Library
    3. Find and select the downloaded book, making sure you get the audio file. (Here I’m adding a chapter of Huck Finn.)
    4. It will add it to your iTunes Library in one of two places:
      1.  If it is a stand-along file, it will be in your Music library
      2. If it is part of a Podcast series, it will be in your Podcasts library
    Places To Find Books
    Some useful sites for books, most are free or have a large range of free selections:
    ePub Books
    pdf Books
    AudioBooks

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