NewspaperDirect Adds Free Mobile Service

Libraries that utilize the Library PressDisplay (LPD) newspaper and magazine Web portal and its companion PressReader application will now be able to offer the mobile service free of charge to their patrons.

Newspaper and magazine content distributor NewspaperDirect, purveyor of LPD and PressReader, has made the download of PressReader free for participating library patrons on their iOS, Android, Windows 8, BlackBerry Playbook, and BlackBerry 10 devices anywhere they have an Internet connection. Each time they enter their library thereafter, they can immediately download the publications they want to read just as they were written in print.

The enhanced availability of the app is intended to add value to a library subscription to the magazine and newspaper kiosk service, as PressReader's IP authentication method turns the entire library into a sponsored PressReader "hot zone," according to a release, enabling patrons to enjoy a complementary service that would normally cost an individual $29.95 per month.

Ease of use for patrons is another feature of the enhanced availability, according to a company release, as there is no need for patrons to set up an account, username or password, or even login.

NewsPaper direct services are in use at Calvin College, the University of Michigan, and Kalamazoo College, among others.

Libraries interested in requesting a free trial of PressReader for Libraries and LPD can contact [email protected].

About the Author

Kevin Hudson is a freelance journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • cloud computing circuit board background

    Report: Cloud Crime on the Rise as Attackers Exploit Trust

    CrowdStrike's 2026 Threat Hunting Report traces a multiyear shift from conventional intrusions toward attacks that exploit trusted identities, cloud services, AI systems and software dependencies.

  • Glowing route lines merging into single gold pathway

    Microsoft Merges Copilot Apps Into a Single User Experience

    Microsoft recently announced it is consolidating its consumer Copilot app and Microsoft 365 Copilot app into a single destination, addressing a fragmented product strategy that has required users to navigate separate applications for AI chat and productivity tools.

  • Abstract Network Connection Structure with Glowing Nodes and Lines on Dark Background

    Rubrik, CrowdStrike Expand Integration to Speed Identity Recovery

    Cybersecurity companies Rubrik and CrowdStrike have announced an expanded identity-security integration intended to move compromised identity environments from threat detection through clean recovery with less manual intervention.

  • Abstract neural network 3D illustration

    Intel® AI EmpowerED: The AI-Ready Campus, Delivered

    Artificial intelligence is transforming higher education, prompting institutions to rethink how they manage infrastructure, security, governance, and workforce readiness. Successful adoption requires a strategic, institution-wide approach that aligns AI initiatives with educational goals, faculty enablement, and scalable operational frameworks.