Reflection #9: E-Readers

               

These images stood out to me because I see people choosing an e-reader over a heavy book and a child having multiple books at their fingertips instead of a backpack full of books.  

Using E-Books and E-Readers to Promote Reading in School Libraries: Lessons from the Field

By Ray Doiron

http://conference.ifla.org/past-wlic/2011/143-doiron-en.pdf

This article discusses the issues around building e-book collections and use of e-readers in school libraries and the challenges facing teacher-librarians in creating an e-reading component in school library programs.  School libraries are experiencing pressure to find ways to connect their traditional reading promotions goals with the online world where so many students spend so much time.  Computers and the Internet have changed the way adults and students access information.  Libraries need extensive collections of quality children’s literature (picture books and novels), as well as rich information books, to support positive reading habits, love of reading, and follow the school curriculum.  This article describes what e-books and e-readers are and how they are useful. 

The benefits of this resource are children’s reading engagement and how they may actually help readers better understand the texts they are reading.  Features in many newer e-books (such as audio narration, sound effects, etc.) support the reading of the text and help readers visualize meaning and understand more easily.  Some children may find distracting and interfering with their comprehension, most of the early research is consistent in the fact that e-books can be useful in motivating reading and encouraging readers to read more.  I would much rather carry an e-reader around to read books than a big stack of books.  I don’t have my own personal e-reader but I am looking into buying one myself.  I think they would be perfect for my classroom in small groups because it would give my students another resource and exposure to reading.  As Mark expressed in this article, “I've read 54 Kindle books since Christmas, and I think that this device will revolutionize the reading world.”  He is a 13-year-old middle school student who likes tennis and reading fantasy fiction.  When he was asked about the advantages the e-reader gave him, he said “I use it all the time, even in school, whenever I have some spare time.  If I were to choose between a Kindle and a book, I would choose the Kindle”.  He likes that it is portable, light, and easy to handle and easy on the eyes when he reads for long periods of time.