The big question at the moment at the Junior High School library is what to do with e-books. Should they be part of the library or not? If yes, how do we present them? Does the library buy kindles or some other device? Should they lend out the e-reader or just let students use them in the library? How do we go about buying content? Is a subscription the way to go? And how do you catalogue an item that has no tangible quality?
I can't help thinking that there must be a way to do it. Perhaps we need to really think 'outside the square' to develop a suitable borrowing model. But more and more questions pop up.
I have a Kobo at home and it uses a USB cable to download content. Is this better than wireless because you can regulate what gets downloaded? The school techy is adamant that strict regulation is needed. What about licencing? Does the library have the e-book for just one user or for multiple users? Is the cost for multiple users prohibitive?
I have been reading No Shelf Required by S. Polanka (2011) and I'm afraid I'm more confused than ever by all the problems e-books pose. But the future of e-books is expanding. E-books are so popular now that we can't afford students to miss out on them at school. So I hope our school library finds a way.
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