Maker Literacy

Pawloski, Lynn, and Cindy Wall. Maker Literacy: A New Approach to Literacy Programming for Libraries. Libraries Unlimited, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-4408-4380-8

Publisher's Description
This book takes the creativity and inventiveness of the maker movement and applies that energy in a new way to help children learn across all subject areas as well as broaden their world view.

Traditional library literacy programs have helped many children foster a love of reading, but to prepare this next generation of learners, this programming needs to be modified to include technology. The inherent creativity and inventiveness of the Maker Movement, embracing both classic and innovative technological activities, provides the perfect bridge to invigorate, expand, and update these programs. This alternative to conventional library literacy programming will help children learn throughout all subject areas, see additional possibilities, and make connections in the world around them.

With this guide, readers can discover how to apply maker literacy to introduce connections that help children better understand that their experiences in life are interrelated—that art can be made on a 3D printer and that science and technology are an essential part of design. This holistic approach provides a myriad of creative opportunities for both teaching staff and the children they serve. A great resource for youth services librarians in public libraries, this guide to infusing library programs with technology and maker activities to motivate learning will also appeal to preschool and elementary librarians, educators, and parents.

Features

• Addresses the avid interests of youth in technology
• Provides librarians with a practical resource for incorporating tech literacy into storytime and other youth programs
• Gives librarians a programming tool to use with makerspaces that can be used to integrate them with all areas of learning

Transmedia Storytelling

Hovious, Amanda S. Transmedia Storytelling: The Librarian's Guide. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 2015.
ISBN: 978-1-4408-3848-4

Definition 
"Transmedia storytelling takes the traditional art of storytelling to a whole new level, delivering a fictional story across multiple media platforms -- whether physical, digital, or both -- to create a truly immersive storytelling experience" (p. 3).

Publisher's Description
This practical and thorough guide offers clear explanations of what transmedia storytelling is and shows how it can be integrated into library programming that fosters multimodal literacy with K–12 learners.

When fictional worlds are brought to life in multiple media—via books and comics or through films, animated shorts, television, audio recordings, and games—it is called "transmedia storytelling." Transmedia storytelling offers children's and teen librarians at public libraries, K–12 school librarians, and educators an effective method for bringing story to youth—a perfect fit for today's media-saturated environment. This book demonstrates how to create new pathways to the future of stories and storytelling.

The book serves as a guide to integrating transmedia storytelling into library programs and services. It defines transmedia storytelling, identifies the key connections between it and 21st-century learning, discusses the role of librarians and libraries in supporting and promoting transmedia storytelling, and provides concrete examples of transmedia programs. The suggested programs—ranging from transmedia storytimes for early literacy learners to maker programs for young adults—can be implemented with different levels of technology capabilities and within numerous library settings. In addition, the book offers practical advice on technology planning for libraries that plan to incorporate transmedia storytelling.

Features

• Offers the first practical guide to transmedia storytelling that gives librarians new ways to create excitement in the library, engage learners, and foster multiple literacies
• Provides complete, step-by-step guidelines for transmedia-rich library programs
• Introduces new areas of research and best practices in technology integration wholly applicable to libraries
• Covers topics such as new literacies, participatory storytelling, learning through gamification, maker programs, using digital badges to motivate young learners, and more

3D Printing

Cano, Lesley M. 3D Printing: A Powerful New Tool for Your School Library. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 2015.

ISBN: 978-1-61069-977-8

Publisher's Description

This beginner's guide to 3D design and printing provides librarians with lessons, tips, and instructions for integrating these technologies into the K–12 standards-based curriculum.

This fascinating primer illustrates how 3D printing can be used in different curriculum areas to engage and inspire your K–12 students. You'll gain insight into the printing process and learn how to best utilize multi-dimensional equipment in your library. Written in non-technical language, the book introduces the technology, shows how to get started, and offers ideas for creating project-based learning models.

Author Lesley M. Cano, a school librarian with considerable experience integrating 3D printing into the school curriculum, discusses how to implement this technology in projects across disciplines ranging from math to fine arts and grade levels K through 12. She offers concrete examples that can be easily adjusted to fit subject areas and developmental needs. The title also includes step-by-step instructions for using freely available software tools along with practical tips and strategies to manage implementation of this innovative new technology.

Features

• Includes an appendix of resources for school librarians to get the most out of three-dimensional design and printing
• Suggests practical lesson ideas for integrating 3D printing into language arts, math, science, and social studies
• Focuses on 3D printing as a tool to engage students in curriculum content and promote hands-on, problem-based learning with a focus on authentic, practical application
• Offers suggestions for policy development and guidelines for managing and implementing this powerful technology

eBooks for Elementary School

Cavanaugh, T. W. (2015). eBooks for Elementary School. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-849-8

Publisher's Description
eBooks offer students as well as teachers, school and public librarians, and parents tremendous possibilities. This book explains how to expand and enhance the reading experience through the use of technology.

Today, eBooks are everywhere, and the use of digital learning materials is beginning to supplant traditional printed materials. As the world shifts to digital books, both teachers and students need to be comfortable and effective using materials in this format. This book helps you to apply eBook materials to existing curricula to create interactive educational activities and have access to more materials to support reading instruction, literacy, standards, and reading in the content areas.

Author Terence W. Cavanaugh, an expert on teaching with technology, describes numerous strategies for integrating eBooks into reading instruction and remediation for students in preschool through grade 6. He covers the hardware and software used, the wide range of formats available, and research conducted on the use of eBooks with students as well as how to access free resources such as digital libraries and special collections that make eBooks available for schools. The book also contains a chapter dedicated to using eBooks to help emergent or struggling readers.
 
Features

• Explains how any teacher or librarian can get started on the integration process of using eBooks as reading tools

• Covers all the key critical information regarding eBook use: the different formats of eBooks and readers as well as how to collect and hold eBook files

• Provides information on where teachers can get thousands of free digital books for their students to use, including text, audio, and video books

iPads in the Library

Nichols, Joel A. iPads® in the Library: Using Tablet Technology to Enhance Programs for All Ages. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-61069-347-9

Publisher's Description

This book provides detailed plans and instructions with specific literacy goals for child, teen, and adult audiences—exactly what librarians seeking to integrate iPad and other tablet use into their programs need.

Tablet computers are fast becoming a ubiquitous technology. These devices also represent a unique opportunity for librarians and teachers because they are relatively affordable, easy to configure and maintain, and highly adaptable. Written by a practicing digital literacy instruction librarian who is also a trained children's librarian, this book offers 50 practical programming scenarios that librarians can use to integrate iPads or other tablet devices into their programming, offering different plans for toddlers and pre-K child, school-aged patrons, teenagers, adults, and even seniors.

The plans provide easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions and are designed to be easily adaptable to serve specific audiences. The book serves as a unique resource that helps librarians address digital literacy and bridge the digital divide by focusing on—and catering to—the needs of many age groups. Author Joel A. Nichols also provides annotated lists of apps that present librarians new to tablet computing simple and effective ways of integrating an iPad into their programs.

Features
• Supplies technology programs for young children targeting early literacy skills, and for grade school and middle school-aged children, with a special focus on STEM skills
• Includes programs for adult groups including non-English speakers, job-seekers, and genealogy enthusiasts
• Covers 100 essential apps for library programming in an annotated list
• Provides an annotated list of app review resources for selection
• Blends digital content and delivery with traditional, analogue library services in the versatile supplied plans

Sample Topics
Children's Technology
Digital Literacy
Digital Storytelling
Early Literacy and Pre-Literacy
Hanging Out Messing Around Geeking Out (HoMaGo) Programs
iPods and iOS
Outreach Programs
Tablet Computing
Technology Programs for Seniors
Teen Media Creation

Building the Gigabit City (eBook)

Settles, C. (2013). Building the Gigabit City: A Planning Guide. Smashwords, Inc.

This is an online eBook. Click here to read now!

 
Superfast broadband significantly boosts local economies, transforms education, improves healthcare delivery and increases local government efficiency. Building the Gigabit City helps you ask the right questions so you can do the same for your constituents.

Pulling valuable lessons from many of the 340 communities with successful broadband networks, this multimedia guide overflows with practical advice. Building the Gigabit City, produced in partnership with Gigabit Squared, helps rural and urban communities:

1) ignore the hype surrounding gigabit networks;
2) understand what super-fast access can and cannot do for your community;
3) conduct effective needs assessment; and
4) plan effective broadband strategy.

Success breeds success. Community leaders and project teams running successful broadband projects inform and motivate readers with insights on planning, funding, building, operating and marketing highspeed Internet access and services. U.S. communities from coast to coast are interviewed.

From a multimedia array of interviews, panel discussions, keynote presentations and first-hand experience, readers pick up valuable insights on:

* nine possible community broadband business models;
* six options for funding community broadband;
* building consensus among stakeholders;
* cultivating effective partnerships;
* overcoming or proactively addressing political adversity; and
* creating winning broadband strategies.

Building the Gigabit City is broadband industry analyst Craig Settles’ first e-book. For over 25 years his workshops and consulting services have helped organizations worldwide use technology to cut costs, improve operations and increase revenue. Numerous books, blog and in-depth analysis reports have established Mr. Settles as a prominent thought leader on executing broadband strategies. He currently hosts Gigabit Nation, a weekly Internet radio talk show. (book description)

Implementing Technology Solutions in Libaries

Implementing Technology Solutions in Libraries :  techniques, tools, and tips from the trenches, by Karen C. Knox. Medford, New Jersey : Information Today, Inc., 2011.

From the publisher:

For anyone seeking a straightforward, hands-on approach to implementing technology solutions in libraries, this is your guide! Created for staff who want to ensure success with a technology project that may consume a significant part of the library's budget, author and IT manager Karen Knox deconstructs an entire project implementation, from planning to evaluation, carefully examining each step.

The author has implemented many technology projects over the years—some more successfully than others, as she is quick to admit. In Implementing Technology Solutions in Libraries she draws on her experience to help readers identify the most critical components of any project while modifying and scaling to meet their library's unique needs. The array of tips, tricks, techniques, and tools she shares here are designed to spell success in your next library technology implementation.

A complete table of contents is available here.