Ingram Digital(SM) and McGraw-Hill are working to close the digital content gap between the United States and Latin America. As the leading publisher of Spanish-language educational content, McGraw-Hill is working with Ingram Digital to bring e-books – and the advanced learning tools they offer – to Latin American students and teachers in colleges, universities and professional education.

In recent years, development of digital infrastructure in Latin American markets has increased exponentially. With Ingram Digital’s VitalSource® platform as a launch pad, McGraw-Hill and Ingram Digital have leveraged their respective strengths to introduce interactive e-books to a new generation of students across Latin America’s many educational markets.

“E-books have been available in the U.S. for a while, and though the Latin American market may not have moved to digital as early, we are seeing real acceleration now.” said William Chesser, Vice President and General Manager of Ingram Educational Solutions. “As a recognized leader in Spanish-language education resources, McGraw-Hill was in an enviable position to capitalize on this emerging market. Our existing relationship with McGraw-Hill, and the strength of our feature-rich VitalSource e-book delivery platform, allowed us to provide them with a low-risk opportunity to tap a new revenue stream.”

The VitalSource platform is the most advanced e-book application available. The highly interactive VitalBook® format allows users to search, highlight and annotate their texts. VitalSource-powered e-books can be downloaded to a user’s PC or Mac, making them accessible anywhere, anytime – even when the user is no longer connected to the Internet. The VitalSource Bookshelf® application stores, indexes and displays the e-books and functions as a virtual meeting place for readers to trade notes, tips and techniques.

The VitalSource platform appeals to publishers because it allows them to reach out to emerging digital markets while also protecting their content from illegal use and piracy.

McGraw-Hill Digital and Custom Publishing Director Javier Neyra are optimistic about the company’s prospects in Latin America. “We are in negotiations with the top 15 universities in Latin America,” Neyra said. “Many companies offer software designed to bring basic learning tools into the digital age – but what is usually missing is the trusted, scholarly content. We provide the link between the latest technology and the quality content students and teachers trust. Universities have been very receptive to that winning combination.”

ABOUT INGRAM DIGITAL

Ingram Digital is an Ingram Content company. The Ingram Content companies provide a broad range of physical and digital services to the book industry, and immediate access to the largest selection of books and book-related products in the industry. The Content companies are Ingram Digital, Lightning Source Inc., Ingram Book Company, Ingram International Inc., Ingram Library Services Inc., Coutts Information Services, Ingram Periodicals Inc., Ingram Publisher Services Inc., Spring Arbor Distributors Inc. and Tennessee Book Company LLC.