Lightening talk presentation given at Code4Lib NW on June 1, 2011 in Portland, Oregon US - Gloria Doherty and Robin Ashford, George Fox University, Portland Center.

1. Creating ePubs for Education
THE PRINCIPLE
Our goal is to create e-books that integrate content more efficiently for specific learning
outcomes. Educators are able to create learning objects that are flexible for the learner.
Librarians are able to contribute tutorial support and metadata.
We can deliver content that can be used with mobile devices and can be made fully
accessible offline in many instances (smartphones, tablets, etc.). Because ePub works
as a packet of files, we are able to include metadata that categorizes the content.
THE PRACTICES
Self-Publishing
Pages
Supports hyperlinking, embedded media
Formats to ePub fluidly

2. Distribution
Dropbox
Ubiquitous file transfer for computers and mobile devices
iTunes
Drag ePub file into iTunes Books
Supports embedded media
Loads iOS devices and iBooks app
iBooks
Use iTunes to load ePub file into iBooks library (synch operation)
Plays embedded media offline
Operates with all of iBook’s functionality (i.e. highlighting, notes,
dictionary, search)
Firefox ePub Reader
Use Dropbox to move ePub file onto computer
ePub Reader add-on launches when opening the ePub file using
the browser (File>Open file)
Hyperlinks are functional; embedded media not supported
Aldiko
Google Android app (not yet tested)
Go to fbreader.org
Metadata
● There will be more to come on this topic with the evolution of ePub, for now this
page on ePub Metadata provides an overview.
The Process:
● Create ePub in iWorks Pages
See Apple’s ePub Documentation at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4168

3. Download the ePub Best Practices sample document at
http://images.apple.com/support/pages/docs/ePub_Best_Practices_EN.zip
● Save as ePub file
● Export the ePub to desktop
● Open dropbox on laptop (Download Dropbox onto your computer & mobile
device and create free account)
● Drag ePub from desktop into dropbox on laptop
● Open dropbox on iPad / iPhone or iPod Touch and click on added ePub file to
download
● After downloading ePub message states “unable to view file” click curved arrow
to see app options including iBooks and choose iBooks
● ePub loads and opens to first page
or
● Export the ePub to desktop
● Open iTunes on your computer
● Drag the ePub file from your desktop into the iTunes Books folder
● Sync your mobile device with iTunes to load into iBooks
● Launch iBooks on your mobile device to see the ePub loaded in your Library
or
● Export the ePub to desktop
● Open Firefox browser
● Install ePub Reader add-on
● In Firefox select “Open file” in the File menu to launch ePub Reader and load the
ePub ebook

4. Images below display ePub process and results on iPhone 4:
Further information and developments on ePub can be found on the Wikipedia ePub page
Gloria Doherty, Hybrid Learning Director - gdoherty@georgefox.edu
Robin Ashford, Associate Librarian - rashford@georgefox.edu
George Fox University, Portland Center