Without walls
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Transcript of Without walls
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
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Erin Sullivan
1-800-877-4253 ext. 8671
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/
