Bailey, Nina

Brisco, S. (2010). E-books in the school library. In S. Polanka, No shelf required: E-books in libraries (pp.37-54).  Chicago: ALA Editions.  Retrieved on April 21 from http://www.sjsu.eblib.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=598919

IL

Summary:

This piece is about the use and implementation of e-books in the school library.  It discusses the issues of funding as an impediment, rather than reluctance on the part of librarians to introduce new technologies into their libraries.  The author references the fact that there has been an explosion, of sorts, in the production and distribution of e-books for children in the recent past but that librarians faced with dwindling budgets do not often have the resources to adopt these new technologies.  It also mentions the fact that many librarians who are expected to incorporate e-books into their libraries have not had any sort of training regarding how e-books could be incorporated into the curriculum.  The author discusses types of e-books, cataloging e-books, costs, marketing and challenges.

Evaluation:

One of the most helpful aspects of this piece is the large number of resources included, not limited to a comprehensive list of e-book subscription providers for k-12 school libraries.  In addition, each section contains a list of relevant websites, things to think about, or helpful tips regarding implementation.  Lastly, there is an extensive bibliography that provides additional citations for further research.