NYC library turns Instagram into ebook reader for ‘Alice in Wonderland’

[astrangerhere]

From the story:

In an effort to broaden libraries‘ appeal among social media users, the New York Public Library today unveiled an unusual but ingenious use of Instagram. It’s turning full-length novels into ebooks that can be read with Instagram’s Instant Stories feature. The initiative was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which notes that the library aims to promote reading while adapting to modern trends.

In effect, Instagram’s visually focused social media network is being leveraged as a free distributor of literary works. Dubbed Insta Novels, the feature works by turning book pages into videos that automatically pause when you place your finger on the screen and skip backward or forward if you tap on the left or right sides. Most of the pages are filled with static text, but some are animated to provide emphasis or extra visual interest.

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The first ebook on offer is Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the first half of which has been posted today. Two additional books have been announced for future publication: Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper and Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, with all works drawn from the public domain, as their copyrights have lapsed. Beyond formatting the pages for Instagram, each book is getting a new animated cover and chapter covers that feature the same style of graphic design as the tutorial.

You can see how it works from the New York Public Library's Instagram account.