Joyce Valenza, Teacher

Librarian Springfield

Township High School,

SLJ Blogger

Todd Brekhus, President

of Capstone Digital, deter-

mine digital product vision

and strategy

Erin Sullivan, Product

Manager, Cengage

Learning; responsible for

Gale Virtual Reference Library

eBook platform

Marc Aronson, author, editor,

publisher, speaker, historian,

and SLJ blogger

School Library

Without

Walls

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704285104575491863029792640.html?mod=wsj_share_twitter

(Hardware-driven)

When should

we jump in

and how?

.

http

Todd BrekhusPresident, Capstone Digital

The School Library Without Walls: New Content, New Collections

Todd Brekhus and Capstone Digital• Todd

– Educator and Tech Director– One of the creators: MarcoPolo Web Portal– Education Software Executive

• Capstone– Non-Fiction

• Capstone Press• Heinemann-Raintree• Compass Point Books• Picture Window Books

– Fiction• Stone Arch Books• Picture Window Books

– Digital• Capstone Digital

School Librarian Research

• We launched Capstone Digital in 2010 after nine months of research

• We interviewed hundreds of school librarians and district administrators

• We launched two primary products: PebbleGo and Capstone Interactive Library to address school library and entire school

– Key needs: easy access, recorded audio, database for young learners

eBooks-- We can do better for kids and schools

• We also learned:– Elementary kids need more

than an eBook; they expect more:• Audio MUST be human

recorded voice –actors• Include support tools like

highlighting, search (esp. visual), and curriculum standards

– Librarians want open, unlimited access to digital books; no check in/check out

– Easy-to-use and Internet-based, not bound to a device, but flexibility for devices

Other Points• Quality content matters – great books can become

great digital books and databases: kids could rate and decide

• Personalization of content is critical but this is somewhat opposed to the traditional open patron access models (knowing the user)

• Data about the Digital Reader– not just quiz scores!• Further innovation is required in

– 21st Century Skill areas like: • social networking for collaboration• use of improved database-like functions for critical thinking • improved curricular connections for student self-learning

Digital Content and the Librarians Role

• Digital content available everywhere –not bound to the physical space of the library - will change the role of the librarian

• Librarians can focus on using new digital tools to:– Engage students to read more

– Build confident readers that take ownership in their reading growth

– Appeal to student interests and choice

– Encourage the love of reading

– Increase reading stamina

Capstone Digital Examples

• Digital product implementations in over 4,000 schools nationwide. Some examples:– Charleston County, SC

• Used by 72 schools

• Collection turnover increased by 30x– Average circulation in 1 year for print books = 10

– Average digital book circulation in same period = 337

– Hillsborough County, FL• In 85 schools, 70,000 books read in first month

• Summer Reading Camp, 42 schools, 160,000 books read during Summer School

Thank you

Todd BrekhusPresident, Capstone Digital

support@capstonepub.com

Gale Virtual Reference Library

Erin Sullivan

1-800-877-4253 ext. 8671

erin.sullivan@cengage.com

Thank you!

Marc Aronson is an author, editor, publisher, speaker,

and historian who believes that young people, especially

pre-teens and teenagers, are smart, passionate, and

capable of engaging with interesting ideas in interesting

ways.

http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/nonfictionmatters

http://www.marcaronson.com/