When word came out that Amazon was pulling social network Goodreads into its acquisitional tractor beam, reaction seemed to fall into one of two categories… Travis Jonker, a librarian who blogs at 100 Scope Notes, falls somewhere in between.
Browser Extension Encourages Amazon Searchers to Head to Their Library | LJ Insider
By on January 2, 2013
Avid readers who have made New Year’s resolutions to visit their local library more often might be interested in the Library Extension for Google Chrome. The free extension lets users know whether specific books, ebooks, audiobooks, and music CDs are available at their local library while they browse for those titles at Amazon.com.
National Federation of the Blind to Take Protest to Amazon, Denouncing School Kindle Use as Discriminatory to Blind Students
By on December 5, 2012 7 Comments
Due to their longstanding frustration with Amazon’s failure to make Kindle ereaders accessible to people who are blind, officials from the National Federation of the Blind will be protesting outside Amazon’s Seattle headquarters on December 12.
Free Library of Philadelphia Resolves NOOK Accessibility Lawsuit
By on October 25, 2012 Leave a Comment
The Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP) this week settled the lawsuit filed against it in May by four blind patrons assisted by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). Under the terms of the settlement, FLP has agreed to supplement its collection of more than 60 NOOKs with ten accessible devices, according to a press announcement from the NFB. Within four years, the library will transition to a collection of e-readers that are all accessible to the blind, and will begin incorporating an accessibility requirement into its technology procurement contracts.
Is Amazon Whispercast Enough?: Doubts Remain on Kindle’s Adoption by Schools
By on October 23, 2012 Leave a Comment
Amazon’s newest service, Whispercast, attempts to make Kindles more tempting to librarians by letting them control multiple Kindles from a single access account. However, many librarians have doubts, and there are remaining unanswered questions.
Summertime and the Reading Is Easy: Kick back with a good ebook app or two
By on July 25, 2012 Leave a Comment
Handy tools for reading and ebook discovery that you can enjoy using yourself and perhaps put them to use with students in the classroom or library.
Amazon Offers Harry Potter for Free Through Lending Library
By on May 10, 2012 3 Comments
Potter fans can download all seven books in the J.K. Rowling series starting June 19, following Amazon’s deal with Pottermore to make the titles available through the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.
Boys Value Reading More with Ereaders
By on April 6, 2012 1 Comment
Middle school boys rated reading more valuable as an activity after two months of using an ereader, according to a study by researchers from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Ebook toolkit: Easy-to-Use Applications for Creating Your Own
By on February 28, 2012 1 Comment
These ebook creation tools offer a range of capabilities, from adding a few page-turning effects to PDFs to creating full-blown interactive ebooks with multimedia elements.
The Truth About Tablets: Educators are getting iPads and ereaders into students’ hands—but it’s not easy
By on February 1, 2012 7 Comments
When it comes to using ereaders and tablets in school, librarians will tell you “it’s complicated.”
