Top Articles on SLJ.com 2011: Ebooks, Kid Lit, Jobs

From a feature article questioning the value of ebooks in education to news of a fiasco in the kid lit category of the National Book Awards, the past year of coverage represents an interesting range.

Following are the most accessed articles on School Library Journal’s site published in 2011, grouped according to topic.

However, the dress made from Golden Books (pictured at bottom) would seem to defy category.

Illustration by Ken Orvidas

Ebooks, digital content, tools

Are Ebooks any Good? (June) – The top article of the year

Fully Loaded: Outfitting a teacher librarian for the 21st century. Here’s what it takes. (Jan)

The Kindles Are Coming: Ereaders and tablets are springing up in schools—and librarians are leading the way (March)

School Library Loans Via Kindle: Jeff Hastings Weighs in on OverDrive’s partnership with Amazon (June)

Amazon Alters Rules for Kindles in School Libraries (Aug)

IPads to Outpace Computers in Schools by 2016, Poll Says (Nov)

Planet App: Kids’ book apps are everywhere. But are they any good? (Jan)

Tech Trends: A Gown Fashioned from Golden Books (April)

Authors, kid lit

‘Redwall’ Author Brian Jacques Dies at 71 (Feb)

‘Today Show’ Snubs 2011 Caldecott, Newbery Winners (Jan)

‘And Tango Makes Three’ Tops Most Challenged List, Again (April)

Kid Lit World Responds to WSJ Attack on YA Fiction (June)

Make Way for Stories: There’s a good reason why people are passing up picture books (Nov)

Lauren Myracle Drops Out of National Book Award Consideration (Oct)

Oops! National Book Foundation Unveils Six YA Finalists (Oct)

Comic Relief: Thirty-nine graphic novels that kids can’t resist (July)

SLJ Exclusive: Lauren Myracle Opens Up About NBA Fiasco (Oct)

YOUMedia Photo by Alexander Garcia

The profession: research, resources, best practices

Something to Shout About: New research shows that more librarians means higher reading scores (Sept) (the second most popular article on our site)

Pearson Offers Free Online 9/11 Lesson Plans, Activities (Aug)

Divine Design: How to create the 21st-century school library of your dreams (April)

What’s Right With This Picture?: Chicago’s YOUmedia reinvents the public library (March)

The Bully in the Backpack: There’s no limit to the cruelty of online bullies. Here’s what you can do. (Oct)

Funding/jobs

Hang in There: How to get a library job against all odds (Feb)

President Obama Delivers Another Slap in the Face to School Librarians (Feb)

California Hands Out Scores of Pink Slips to School Librarians (March)

Texas School Board Moves to Eliminate 22 Library Positions (Jan)