Why We Built Our Own EPUB Reader
For a long time, we’ve heard the same frustrations from friends and neighbors: “I want to read that book, but I can’t figure out the app.” It’s a common story in the North. We are often handed technology designed for big cities—apps that assume you have lightning-fast internet, the newest smartphone, and an endless amount of patience for “syncing” and “logging in.” For many of us, those apps felt like a locked door.
When we listened to your feedback, we realized that people weren’t “bad at technology.” Rather, the technology was bad at serving the people. We saw elders who wanted to read local histories and students who needed textbooks, all struggling with interfaces that were cluttered and confusing. So, we decided to stop trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. We decided to build our own ePub reader from the ground up.
The philosophy behind our design was simple: make it human. We stripped away the bells and whistles that nobody asked for. We didn’t want “features” that slowed down your tablet or ate up your data plan. Instead, we focused on the feeling of opening a real book. We made the buttons large and clear, the library easy to find, and—most importantly—we made sure it works perfectly when the internet doesn’t.
Building this wasn’t just about code; it was about respect. It was about respecting the time of our users and acknowledging that in the North, we value things that are sturdy, reliable, and straightforward. We wanted to create a space where the technology fades into the background, leaving nothing between you and the story you’re reading.
This reader belongs to this community. It was built because you told us what you needed, and we believe that when we build our own tools, we keep our culture and our stories in our own hands. We hope this makes your next late-night reading session a little bit brighter and a whole lot easier.
Click here to use the reader.
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