July 3, 2025

Free Library of Philadelphia Resolves NOOK Accessibility Lawsuit

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

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

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

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

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

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

When it comes to using ereaders and tablets in school, librarians will tell you “it’s complicated.”

Fine. I Got an Ereader. Now What? A newbie to digital reading gets his first Kindle

“Can I just say something? I’m wary of ereaders,” writes Travis Jonker. Nevertheless, the school librarian took the plunge and documents his experience in SLJ’s latest tech feature.

Letters: For a technology user, a love of print endures

“My love of actual books does not interfere with my ability to see value in electronic devices and to champion ways for our students and staff to use them effectively,” writes Kate Ewing, a media specialist in Omro, WI.

Librarians Face Patrons Unhappy With Penguin Policy Change; ALA Condemns Ebook Decision

Penguin Group

Penguin’s decision to no longer allow libraries to lend its new ebook titles has created consternation among librarians and stirred speculation about the “security concerns” Penguin cited.