The Votes are In - Kindle Rocks!

During my last post, I mentioned that we had purchased two Kindle eBook readers for the OE Library. I'd like to tell you about some of the features, in bulleted format:

- Very slim design (we have the second generation Kindle models). For more information on the various models, see: www.amazon.com
- Super short learning curve. However, these Kindles are packed with features we are still discovering. So, in short, you can be up and reading within minutes. Later, when you explore, you will discover all sorts of cool ways to use this device (such as using the cursor to "hover" in front of a word for which you need a definition -- one will appear the bottom of the screen).
- Instantaneous gratification. With Kindle's Whispernet technology (their wireless platform) you will be able to search the Amazon store for titles, and download them extremely quickly. I found this to be true at home, on the subway in Chicago, on a train, and in our car out in the middle of nowhere (Iowa)!
- Buyer's remorse? Not a problem. With the Kindle, if you accidently order a book you really don't want, you can immediately retrieve that purchase.
- Large font sizes are available. For middle-aged people, and younger students, this is a great boon. If you don't need a large font size, then you can simply arrange the type to appear in the size that is most comfortable for you.
- Lightweight - the Kindle is super easy to throw into a purse, backpack, messenger bag, tote bag, etc. It is small, thin, and weighs less than a pound. When you realize just how many novels you can load into the Kindle, it is hard to believe that you will never develop back strain (or even hand strain) from using large, heavy books.

I could go on and on, but I also want to mention that we are still exploring. How will we use this semi-fragile device with students? Is there a protective, and yet rigid, skin we can purchase to protect the screen? I like the idea of using Kindles for students who are not comfortable reading text yet, operating the text read-aloud function as an aid for helping them to decode text as they hear it being read aloud.

And, because I am reviewing this product, I do have a couple of suggestions for Amazon:

1. Build a backlight into the Kindle design. For those who like to read in bed, on a darkened plane, train, or automobile, or in a situation where you don't want to disturb others (maybe you arrived at the movie theater early to get your seat and have a 30-minute wait), a backlight would be most welcome.

2. The search interface isn't pretty. It works, but there must be a way to make searching the Kindle store into a more seamless experience as it is with Amazon on the PC or Mac. You have a better experience searching if you know the title ahead of time, rather than simply going on a fun search. I recommend looking at the New York Times bestseller list as a starting place. I also wish the buyer reviews were easier to access.

My next post will be about revisiting a fun, elementary school event right here in our high school. Coming soon in April! Oh, and Happy Birthday to you, Dr. Seuss. I still remember my days of reading about Yertle the Turtle!

Testing: Amazon's Kindle

Whoopie! We bought two Amazon Kindles this semester. I will be testing them out over the winter break and plan to write a review for library users and teacher-librarians. Some questions I'll be looking to answer include:

- Is there a backup via Amazon's server for books I order? The Kindle stores a certain amount of data, but it is not infinite. And as we all know, data does get lost. Often.
- Is the read-aloud text feature reliable and actually usable? I've heard text read aloud by machines, and it isn't always pretty.
- How sturdy is the Kindle? I'm thinking in terms of checking it out to students and teachers.
- What is the process for wiping out prior book purchases and then reloading them?
- What are ways that the Kindle might be used with visually impaired students (text size can be increased, but what else might be helpful)?
- How can I integrate this technology into the curriculum?
- How might this device be used with students who have learning disabilities?

I did get over the first hump regarding purchsing the Kindles. Amazon charges sales tax, and will later remove it if you request that they do so. Because we are a public school, we must not allow sales tax to accrue for any items we purchase. I discovered that the process for having sales tax refunded is actually very straighforward and simple with Amazon. I was impressed - if only all financial arrangements in life were so simple...If you want to know whom to contact at Amazon for requesting a sales tax refund for tax-exempt purchases, please contact me. I'll be happy to share what I've learned.

Meanwhile - have a wonderful break, students, teachers and all readers, and enjoy the extra time to try out some new novels and non-fiction. Happy reading!

Library Support Personnel

Woe is me! I miss my clerk this week. She's been home for several days, terribly ill and struggling to feel better. I have been reminded daily of how crucial she is to the performance of our library program. This year her presence especially hits home, because in our high school libraries we had cuts to LMS staffing; each high school now has one full time, certified library media specialist and one (almost) full time clerk. Last year, we had an additional half-time LMS (Mrs. Reeves), and this library functioned very successfully between the three of us.

This semester, I know I've dropped the ball on some things. We haven't had a major library contest yet. The video collection conversion from title to Dewey is dragging. I cannot travel as easily to classrooms for technology problem solving. I find myself staggering class instruction so that I am not delivering teaching for seven hours per day.

Don't get me wrong. We are still very viable and alive. When our last book order arrived, we had a sensational day sharing books and snacks with students and staff. We are having a great time with the Library Club (meet us at AMC 30, Monday, Nov. 23 at 3:45 p.m. for New Moon). Cirulation figures are off the charts. The library just played a huge part in a schoolwide Veteran's Day celebration that involved many different events and performances.

But when cuts are made, programs suffer. If I were to also lose our wonderful library clerk, Mrs. Curbow, I do not know how I would continue striving to provide an exemplary program and still keep my head above water. Mrs. Curbow is the first point of entry in our library, and she handles a great deal of customer service up front, allowing me to perform programming work on the side. This week without her has made me appreciate her help and caring attitude all the more!

The decisions that school districts are making today are grave ones that affect much more than a budget. They affect the functioning of lively, engaging school library programs run by certified teacher-librarians who are invested in students and their learning. Those librarians need adequate staffing to help them provide exemplary programs. What a shame if budgetary constraints dictate wrong decisions that ultimately wind up hurting our student populations...

We are back in business!

Library Log is up and running again. I strayed to WordPress, but ultimately decided that our students and staff are best served by using Dreamweaver for the library web page, and Blogger for the Library Log blog. I'm looking forward to sharing news about the Olathe East Library Media Center with students, staff, and our community.

Mrs. Franklin

Hey Seniors! Bring Back Those Books!

Dear Soon-to-be-graduates:

We are a fun place. We provide a myriad variety of services for all of our patrons. Remember the day we served nachos and cheese, just because? Or the fun library parties, complete with gorgeous new books, prize drawings, and candy? We are all about books, and young people. And sometimes, food. We are not in the business of charging overdue fines.

However, as the last day of school for senior students approaches, we do hold our wonderful students to one expectation: making good on their library accounts. What does this look like?

1. Return your library books by May 15.
2. If you've borrowed a book and lost it, please pay for it.
3. If you've borrowed a book and damaged it, please pay for it.

Come, bring your books back to the library. If you need to make payment, please bring either cash or a check made out to: Olathe East. If you return your books,we'll probably do a cheer for you! We might even jump up and down. We want your graduation checkout process to go as smoothly as possible. Taking care of this portion will complete one more item off of your checklist!

Students, our goal is to have all books returned and to avoid having any students have to pay for materials. We look forward to seeing you in the next few weeks.

And yes, we are going to miss you so much! Your visits have been a source of fun, wonder, inspiration, and many good experiences.

The OE Library Staff - Mrs. Franklin, Mrs. Reeves, and Mrs. Curbow

Web 2.0 for Teacher-Librarians

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Web 2.0 for Teacher-Librarians

View more presentations from Lori Franklin.

Updates, Club News and Movies!

The first semester passed by so quickly at Olathe East, that I did not take time to blog! We saw a tremendous amount of classes in the OE LMC for instruction, research projects and other visits. Our numbers attending Academic Resource Time (ART) and Seminar are up over the previous year's figures. These increased visits make our library a very busy place, and we have been strategizing how we'll handle increased numbers of students when the 9th graders move up to high school (2011-2012). The library will not be having additional space added, so we will need to be careful and thoughtful about how we manage an increase of 500+ more students. One suggestion is to convert our office area into an instructional space. Because we have moved our desks out onto the library floor, this is viable and may well free up space currently used by our instructional section.

The Reading Club has been meeting regularly. Club members worked together last week to sign and decorate Christmas cards for our U.S. soldiers stationed overseas. We were so pleased with the caring and creativity our students expressed at our work party. Of course, food, drink and holiday music rounded out the event!

Last month, several students, teachers and I attended "Twilight." It was so much fun to see how the movie captured certain aspects of Stephenie Meyer's first novel. Of course, when a book is translated to a movie, there are often many details left out and this was the case here. Still, the movie was enjoyable and from what I've read, it looks like the second film will be created, aligning with New Moon. At first, I did not like the way Edward looked (based on my own preconception of what he might look like), but as the movie played, he grew on me. It was a fun afternoon activity!

We are so delighted to have a new library clerk, Kathy Curbow. She loves working with young adults, and has a lot of experience. A library clerk is often the first point of contact in this setting, and we are especially pleased that Kathy exudes such a warm, welcoming presence for our students and teachers. If you haven't met her yet, please stop by and say, "Hello."

We are wrapping up this semester and eagerly looking forward to 2009. One of my resolutions for the new year is to update this blog more often. Be watching for previews of new books we've ordered, and for upcoming library celebrations. Hint: one day next week we will be giving away cookies to our Seminar attendees!