Method 6 eBooks & eReaders and Libraries

Last fall, I skipped ahead to read this Method 6 about eReaders. I was so curious about them but never thought I’d want one.

But guess what I’ve had for almost seven months now and really enjoy? Yup, an eReader. Kindle Fire, to be exact. I had promised myself I’d think about one if they came out in color—no black and white for me. When Barnes & Noble and Amazon both as well as Wi-Fi compatible models, I wanted to see them in person. Keep in mind I don’t have a smart phone or other fancy mobile device…more of a simple pay-as-you-go cellular phone. So, these little devices were wonders to me.

But now I’m much more comfortable reading or sending send e-mails, updating or commenting on Facebook, surfing other art blogs, conducting Google Searches, playing card games, and even—gasp!—buying and reading books on my Kindle Fire.

But, it sounds like eReaders aren’t quite so fun for libraries. On one of the links, there was a podcast on YouTube called “Libraries are Screwed.” In these techno times, the codex—the book, the monograph—is in an outmoded form. Digital is all the rage. But copywrite and library loan of digital books is cumbersome if not confusing and inconsistent. Most publishers won’t allow digital sharing since they want their piece of eBook sales. DRM (Digital Rights Management), the restriction of "one copy, one user" inhibits wide-spread circulation of a title.

That isn’t to say that there will not be a software breakthrough in the future or some agreement between libraries and eReader distributors across the many and varied device platforms. Project Gutenberg offers thousands of free e-books because the copyright has expired. I searched for Walden by Henry David Thoreau http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/205. The HTML version could be read online but the text was blocky, single spaced, and without paragraph lines.

Searching our local public library, I found they have eBooks powered by OverDrive and good help through their online pages. For my Kindle Fire, I found this site: http://help.overdrive.com/article/0430/How-to-read-eBooks-borrowed-from-the-library-with-Kindle-devices-or-Kindle-reading-apps

Looks like you can download books directly to your Kindle Fire once you download appropriate software. Here is the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/?nodeId=200747550

But many titles were “checked-out” since only one copy is available. Older classics with no restrictions on copy or availability would be quicker to download.

Once today’s problems between eBooks and libraries are solved, more patrons can enjoy the range, accessibility, and downright fun eReaders promise.

Method 5: Tag, You’re It!

Since I’m continuing this online class quite a while after the initial offering, there are some methods I have since discovered on my own. This is the case for learning about social reading sites.

Goodreads is one of the several profiled allowing you to add books you have read, are currently reading, or wish to read and to compare your list with others in the community, both friends and strangers. Recently, I connected my Goodreads profile to another social media, Facebook. Since I often find Facebook rather vacuous, I recently added some Facebook friends to Goodreads and also linked my Goodreads account to Facebook so my reading updates appear. When I re-read an old favorite book, an out-of-state Facebook friend commented that my choice looked interesting and she had ordered a copy!

 Although I have read all my life, I haven’t kept track of every book I’ve read. Nor have I kept a consistent list of them. A few months ago, I discovered dedicated books to keep such records. Instead of buying one, I created one from a blank sketchbook but I admit to falling behind. It is much quicker and easier to list your reading habits online. The more I use Goodreads, the more I learn. I’ve added their book montage widget to my art blog, read reviews of old favorites, seen which books my friends are reading, discovered others had read and commented about some my own reviews.

Three videos from Library Thing for Libraries really got my attention. One showed how the site help libraries create a “Library Anywhere” presence on mobile devices. Another explained how libraries can use statistics from that to track patron usage. Another described patrons using phone apps to scan a book’s bar code, get a match, and then locate it at a local library.

As rapidly as technology advances and connects, the more tools libraries have to reach their patrons. Social reading sites are great tools.

Beyond Two Stepping, Method 4

Employment 2.0

This method explains that public libraries are getting more and more patrons in their doors and at their computers looking for jobs online.

Some of the new online resources are very interesting, especially ones where you can upload your resume and add photos, hyperlinks, charts, and graphics. This blows the old standard resume out of the water!

I don’t think this is pertinent for the library I work at, since it is an academic one, but it is good information for the students who attend classes here for their future job searching.