This week’s column takes a look at productions that incorporate music: an iPad app featuring a new setting for a classic counting tune, and iBooks that take children around the world as they drift off to asleep.
Self-Published Ebooks not a Solution for K-12 Schools
By on May 6, 2013
While self-published titles may be an option for public libraries when it comes to acquiring ebooks, not so for schools, according to SLJ columnist Christopher Harris, who lays out the ongoing challenges for ebook adoption in K-12.
Hachette to Sell Frontlist Ebook Titles to Libraries
By on May 1, 2013
Hachette Book Group today announced that it will once again sell its frontlist ebook titles to libraries, beginning on May 8. Hachette’s entire catalog of 5,000 ebooks will now be available through OverDrive, Baker & Taylor’s Axis 360 platform, and the 3M Cloud Library, under a pricing and licensing model similar to the one employed by Random House.
SLJ Reviews Gobstopper and Subtext: Apps that Enable Interactive Classroom Reading
By on April 15, 2013
The ability for teachers and students to embed their own content into digital texts, write notes, and get feedback on student reading—classroom reading just got a lot more dynamic. SLJ columnist Jeff Hastings test driives Gobstopper and Subtext.
SLJ’s Best of Apps and Enhanced Books | April 2013
By on April 15, 2013
High-res 3-D images of black holes and nebulae that you can tweet or post to Facebook are among the features of a companion app to a popular BBC series, which is reviewed this month in School Library Journal.
Welcome to the Mothership: Travis Jonker’s Take on Amazon/Goodreads
By on April 11, 2013
When word came out that Amazon was pulling social network Goodreads into its acquisitional tractor beam, reaction seemed to fall into one of two categories… Travis Jonker, a librarian who blogs at 100 Scope Notes, falls somewhere in between.
Interactive Storytelling App Versu | screencast tutorial
By on April 2, 2013
In her latest screencast, School Library Journal contributor Linda W. Braun test drives Versu in an assessment that considers the potential of interactive platforms that blur the lines between reader and creator—a particularly compelling concept when it comes to kids and teens.
Penguin Lifts Library Ebook Purchase Embargo
By on March 27, 2013
Penguin Group today announced that it will be changing the terms on its library ebook lending program, and on Tuesday, April 2, will begin allowing libraries to purchase and lend ebook titles the day that hardcover editions are released, according to The Associated Press. Previously, Penguin had placed a six month embargo on new ebooks, [...]
Librarian Cites ‘Concerning’ Trends in Digital Collection Development
By on February 26, 2013
Librarians are uniquely positioned to handle the acquisition and management of digital content. But Michelle Luhtala, department chair of the New Canaan (CT) High School Library, sees some troubling trends, reflecting misconceptions about econtent among librarians and administrators alike.
Deluxe and Digital | Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’
By on February 21, 2013 Leave a Comment
A deluxe edition of John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ offers educators a variety of multimedia resources to share with students.
Webooks: A novel plan for cooperative ebook purchasing | The Next Big Thing
By on February 14, 2013
Webooks, a cooperative ebook purchasing plan, has been named a Cutting Edge Technology Project by the American Library Association. It could be a model for districts around the country, says Christopher Harris.
Flying Twice as High: Reading Rainbow 2.0 | SLJ Talks to LeVar Burton
By on February 12, 2013
Thirty years after its debut, most of us can still remember every word of the theme song and hum its melody. That’s the legacy of, and the power behind, Reading Rainbow, says LeVar Burton. In this one-on-one interview, Burton chats candidly to SLJ about the reiteration of the brand as a subscription-based tablet app and its anticipated expansion to the Web, children’s literacy, his ongoing mission to create lifelong readers, and his efforts to advocate for access for all kids.
Bookshare Launches New eBook Tools for Kids with Print Disabilities
By on February 7, 2013
Bookshare has announced that it is launching two new additions to its product line as part of its continuing effort to help kids with print disabilities connect with books. Bookshare Web Reader allows readers to directly open books with a browser without requiring them to download the book or utilize separate software, while Bookshelf allows readers (or their teachers) to organize selections by any system they choose.
Resources for Digital Learning
By on February 6, 2013
Technology integration isn’t confined to a single 24 hours, of course. To help inform your practice on Digital Learning Day and beyond, we offer related stories featured in SLJ and the Digital Shift, including the insight and expertise of Joyce Valenza, Richard Byrne, and other contributors.
Give Lessons a Byte on Digital Learning Day
By on February 5, 2013
Best of Apps & Enhanced Books | February 2013
By on February 1, 2013 Leave a Comment
BiblioBoard and Pyramids 3D, check out these App reviews.
CES 2013 Top Trends for Schools: From adaptive ebooks to crowd-funded technology, products to look out for
By on January 23, 2013
Grumbling about the relevance of CES notwithstanding, several standout products are set to impact K–12 education. SLJ columnist Jeff Hastings taps the highlights, including one overarching trend that’s bound to affect a wide range of devices for all users.
As Tablets Supplant Ereaders, New Challenges Arise for Publishers
By on January 17, 2013
Sixty percent of publishing executives believe that tablets have become “the ideal reading platform,” and 45 percent believe that dedicated e-readers will soon be irrelevant, according to a recent online, by-invitation survey conducted by global research and advisory firm Forrester.
Kids’ Ebook Reading Nearly Doubled Since 2010, Scholastic Reading Survey Finds
By on January 14, 2013
The number of kids reading ebooks has nearly doubled since 2010, according to Scholastic’s Kids & Family Reading Report, which was released today. The national survey of kids age 6–17 and their parents also found that half of kids age 9–17 say they would read more books for fun if they had greater access to ebooks—although 80 percent of kids who read ebooks say they still read books for fun primarily in print.
Ebook Toolkit: SLJ Reviews StarWalk Kids
By on January 9, 2013
School Library Journal columnist Jeff Hastings test drives the new Web- and subscription-based ebook collection StarWalk Kids.
