Yet more eBook-related activity in the education markets, with library and schools provider, OverDrive, offering up 1,001 audiobooks to US schools.

The collection - designed to work on Macs, iPods and other platforms - reflects the increased willingness of schools in the US sector to embrace electronic learning, partially, of course, to tweak a little extra out of their budgets.

However, that today’s generation of learners are used to becoming immersed inside electronic content (console games, the internet) shouldn’t be ignored, numerous studies prove getting learners engaged in how they learn actually boosts what they learn.

OverDrive’s move is just one of the many recent moves among different publishing companies to get involved in eBook and audiobook creation. And that Apple is said to be engaged in high level talks with publishers with a view to making their titles available to its much-speculated upon future ‘Tablet’ reinforces the level of activity in this market place.

OverDrive’s new system is called AudioBook Classroom, and offers 1,001 assigned and recreational reading titles in 29 subjects. The company is demonstrating its solution at the American Association of School Librarians conference, which begins today.

Titles are always available for simultaneous use by all students and can be played on the computer or transferred to iPod and other MP3 players. The collection includes contemporary and classic titles, including "The Soloist" and "Beowulf”.

Titles come in 29 subjects, including American and world history, poetry, literature, biography, sociology, and economics.

David Burleigh, director of marketing for OverDrive said: "Audiobooks on all school computers and iPod can motivate reluctant readers, help develop vocabulary, introduce titles above reading level, and give busy students a convenient way to read the books they need and want."

OverDrive also offers School Download Library, providing eBooks and audiobooks.

Interestingly, both the American Association of School Librarians and Apple Inc. are members of tech in teaching advocacy group, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.