The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is encouraging all district school textbook coordinators and administrators to attend an introductory webinar at 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, to learn about the new Textbook Inventory Management System or TIMS 2.0.
To attend the webinar, go to https://tinyurl.com/MDEk12TIMS2. The webinar will be recorded and shared on the MDE Textbook webpage.
In Spring 2022, the MDE procured Ingram Education Services as the regional textbook depository. Along with the depository, Ingram Education Services has developed a new Textbook Inventory Management System or TIMS 2.0.
The webinar will cover enhanced changes of the new TIMS 2.0 system, the benefits for districts and schools and things to consider when purchasing textbooks from individual publishers. Some of the changes include:
- Districts can purchase and manage print and digital instructional materials and professional development through the platform. Ingram Education Services will charge no more than 5 percent for shipping and 7 percent for inventory management.
- With the new platform, inventory data will no longer be self-reported but transferred directly from the textbook depository.
- Textbook coordinators and district administrators can see real time, on-demand inventory information that can be searched by physical, digital, consumables, and professional learning.
- Dedicated on-demand team provided by Ingram Education Services to help textbook coordinators with purchasing and management to ensure quick responses.
- The new platform will have a training site with videos and guides to help textbook coordinators with the new system.
For more information, email Elizabeth Simmons at esimmons@mdek12.org to be added to the textbook listserv. Please include your name, role, and name of school and/or district.