E-Readers in the Media Center Providing Access to Technology

E-Readers in the Media Center Why should we include e-books Why loan e-readers through the media center Options for implementing e-readers Recommendations for implementing e-readers

Why Include E-books in the Media Center

Need for Electronic Reading Materials Why E-Books Reluctant and struggling readers read more on the computer or electronic devices “I read longer books because I don’t really know how much more I have to read—there’s not the heavy rest of the book to worry about.”

Need for Electronic Reading Materials Why E-Books E-reading may improve reading skills for struggling readers Hume’s experimental study with 3 rd, 4 th, and 5 th graders in Missouri resulted in a significant improvement in fluency rate for the experimental group, those who read and listened to e-books on a computer

Need for Electronic Reading Materials Why E-Books E-reading can assist English-language learners Read-aloud features, translation applications, and electronic dictionaries enable students to hear pronunciation and connect unfamiliar words to their native language

Need for Electronic Reading Materials Why E-Books E-reading enables interactive reading Electronic reading materials often provide links to additional web resources and the ability to search for more information. Students may be able to highlight words or passages and take notes within the reading material.

Need for Electronic Reading Materials Why E-Books E-books offer privacy When students check out e-books, no one else knows the titles or subjects of the books they are reading. Struggling readers can read at their level without others seeing the level of their books.

Need for Electronic Reading Materials Why E-Books E-books provide convenience Many books on one device Small devices enable reading anywhere No late fees or lost books!

Sources for E-books Why E-Books Public domain (freely available!) Project Gutenberg Google Books Bartleby Bookyards eBooks by EBSCOhost (through GALILEO) International Children’s Digital Library …and many more!

Sources for E-books Why E-Books Local public library Georgia Download Destination only requires a library card to a member library Many audiobooks are also available through our library’s subscription

Sources for E-books Why E-Books Subscription collections TumbleBooks and TumbleBookCloud I Save a Tree Capstone Publishing’s myON reader One More Story

Sources for E-books Why E-Books Subscription collections ABC-CLIO (over 7000 reference works) Scholastic’s BookFlix StarWalk Kids Big Universe

Sources for E-books Why E-Books Subscription services and title purchasing MeeGenius Rosen’s Epointbooks OverDrive FollettShelf Barnes & Noble Amazon …and many more!

Making Connections Why E-Books Subscription collections often provide larger percentage of nonfiction texts E-book can go beyond textbook Connect with current events Update existing nonfiction collection Common Core requires more informational texts

Why Loan E-readers at the Media Center

Lack of Devices Why E-Readers Biggest obstacle to e-book implementation 67% of School Library Journal readers cited lack of devices as biggest obstacle to providing e-books

Lack of Devices Why E-Readers Pew Research Center (Purcell, Heaps, Buchanan, & Friedrich, 2013)

Research Results Why E-Readers Studies with e-readers Gustafson’s “most discouraged [8 th grade] readers” became engaged Miranda, Williams-Rossi, Johnson & McKenzie’s study of Texas middle school students enrolled in reading improvement classes revealed a significant increase of boys’ value of reading Larson observed 2 nd graders whose teacher appreciated the ability to differentiate reading instruction

Options for Implementing E-readers

E-Reader Pioneers Options Kathy Parker of Seneca Grade School, Illinois (K-8) Developed policies and procedures Kindles provided for 7 th and 8 th grade literature classes Each 8 th grade student received Kindle Collaborated with teachers to develop list of “Reluctant Reader Titles” Taught lessons on Kindle features and tools for younger students

E-Reader Pioneers Options Kathy Parker of Seneca Grade School, Illinois (K-8) In her own words: “The bottom line for me is the Kindles have generated a love of reading among those students who would not have otherwise picked up a book.”

E-Reader Pioneers Options Kathy Parker of Seneca Grade School, Illinois (K-8)

E-Reader Pioneers Options Buffy Hamilton of Creekview High School, Canton, Georgia Inspired by Kathy Parker, implemented e- readers for check out, one-week loan period Adapted Parker’s procedures and forms for loaning devices Began with Kindles, added Nooks following year Student-centric program—added titles by student request Set of Nooks for classroom novel studies

E-Reader Pioneers Options Buffy Hamilton of Creekview High School, Canton, Georgia

E-Reader Pioneers Options Buffy Hamilton of Creekview High School, Canton, Georgia

E-Reader Pioneers Options Buffy Hamilton of Creekview High School, Canton, Georgia

E-Reader Programs Options Sandy Hook Elementary School, Connecticut Devices checked out to fourth graders for two- week period Mostly free e-books Received as gift, purchased through grants and also through Box Tops for Education “Draws out reluctant readers”

E-Reader Programs Options Pennsylvania school district High school has classroom set of Kindles available for all subjects to use Middle school has Kindle club—members can use for leisure reading in the library Junior high school purchased iPads for library e-readers

E-Reader Programs Options Alabama high school Nooks available for loan Only acquires public domain books No forms required— “Requiring permission relating to the device seemed to have the potential to limit access to the hardware for the students we most wanted to have the experience in reading electronically, those who might not have access to their own dedicated devices.”

Recommendations for Implementing E-readers

Selecting Device Recommendations Choose the e-reader device, model and vendor, which best meets students’ needs Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Nook Sony Reader Kobo eReader Apple iPad

Funding Recommendations Potential sources for funding Title I or other grants Civic groups, such as Rotary Club BoxTops for Education or other school promotions Parent organizations

Providing Content Recommendations Select the method(s) for adding titles which best meets students’ need Preload titles -Individual or collection purchase -Student requested material -Public domain Teach students to download free titles

Policies and Procedures Recommendations Media committee sets policies and procedures Access to content, title management Loan period Acceptable use Parental/guardian permission Forms

Policies and Procedures Recommendations

Policies and Procedures Recommendations

Policies and Procedures Recommendations

Implementing E-Readers E-reading engages students Not everyone has access Provide e-reader devices for loan through media center –Select your devices –Obtain funding –Provide content –Clarify policies and procedures…

Get Everybody Reading!

E-Readers in the Media Center Providing Access to Technology Presented by Susan P. Crawford University of West Georgia Providing Access to Technology Presented by Susan P. Crawford University of West Georgia