Tech

Looking for quality apps for young children can be hit and miss. We've taken the work out of it for you and the parents who visit your library.

A screencast tour of four free applications to help kids learn how to code: Daisy the Dinosaur, Hopscotch, Scratch, and Tynker.

The perfect companion on a summer hike? National Geographic's digital guide to North American birds allows nature lovers to identify winged creatures, learn about their habits, and record sightings, all before they can say Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

Two delightful new apps that introduce the joys of poetry will have listeners of all ages reciting odes to the seasons and some well-known verses.

For the college bound, "Fiske Guides" have always been go-to resources. Two years ago they launched an interactive app with information on more than 300 colleges with options to add notes, email admissions offices, and more. The latest addition to their list is an ebook sampler to some of the "best buys" in higher education.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) revealed its inaugural Best Apps for Teaching and Learning list on Jun 30 at the American Library Association annual conference. Head of children's services at Darien Library, CT, Kiera Parrott highlights some of her favorites from the 25 winning apps that cover a broad range of subjects, inspire curriculum connections, and can be used for classroom instruction and public library programming.

A stellar new production by the ever-inventive team at Nosy Crow, a Earth-bound intergalactic duo, and an interactive trip back in time to 79 CE, share this month's list of favorite apps.

Touch Press has followed their rich 'Orchestra' app with a superb tribute to Ludwig Van 'Beethoven's 9th Symphony,' considered by many to be one of the composer's greatest works.

June 24 marked the debut of Graphite, a free, online guide to digital learning products compiled by and for educators. Created by Common Sense Media, a national nonprofit, the new resource reviews and rates digital products, including apps, games, websites and digital curricula for K-12.