Thursday, January 7, 2010

Week 9 Thing 23 Copyright and Evaluation/Feedback

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I really enjoyed the leisurely exploration of all these resources. Many I had been introduced to during workshops at conferences, but never revisited them, forgot about them, or didn't really take the time to figure out how to integrate them into my everyday library world at school. I got LOTS of great ideas and inspiration from seeing what other librarians were doing--sometimes to the point of feeling rather like a dinosaur close to retirement:) But I do what I can and try not to get anxious about not doing enough.

Learning about all these online resources, most available for free, has shifted my perspective from being limited by budget to accomplish only what I can using purchased software and machines, to looking out in the "cloud" for my resources to share with teachers. I'm now trying to push them that direction as well.

Week 9, Thing 22 ebooks

I have to admit, I have been reluctant to accept eBooks. I find reading on the computer is not easy on my eyes, and the thought of reading from a cell phone is just laughable to me! I can barely see what's on my cell phone as it is. However, I looked at a colleague's Kindle a few years back at the Librarian's Academy in Anchorage, and I was really impressed with how different that was from the computer screen--much better. I would like to get a kindle, but they are rather spendy, and then you have to buy the books! I tend to be an avid library user, and am perfectly happy with just print books. I think this will change eventually, and I will want to get some sort of device, but I keep waiting for more free options.

In looking at the World EBooks site, I did find some free resources, and read a vintage children's book online--but again, my eyes are very sensitive to light, and a longer book would do me in. I think that someday if I take a long trip, I would then have a good reason to go ahead and buy either a Kindle or the one a friend recommended because it is not as proprietary as the Kindle...was it the Nook or something? Anyway, someday when I'm richer have need to travel lightly without a stack of books in my bag.

I was truly impressed by the wide array of available materials online, honestly, and feel like I'm missing out by not joining the ebook bandwagon. I know our library now has audiobooks available for downloading, and I have not yet done those. I took a long trip last summer, driving down through Canada to the lower 48 with a friend, and she had books on tape we listened to, but I found they put me right to sleep! For driving, I need music. I couldn't figure out why I kept getting so tired and having to turn the wheel over to her, but I now believe it was the books on tape! I do have to say that looking at the listings in LibriVox, and finding that they are FREE! got me very excited. I could easily see listening to those while I cook dinner, or work in the garden, just not driving! I think I will promote LibriVox to my staff and parents of students, and make sure the high school librarian knows about it.

At school, I am busy helping kids make podcasts of their stories, little informational eBooks about what the first graders are learning about bears, in the form of KidPix podcasts which I then post on my website for parents, so I am involved in some small way in the production end of it all!