[WEB4LIB] Why eBooks and When?

[Andrew Mutch]

I wouldn't disagree with the idea that, to some degree, children are being over
stimulated with "technology" whether they need it or not.  I was somewhat
dismayed to find in a recent stroll through the toy section at Target that
almost every toy for children, even the "classics" from my childhood, have been
"jazzed up" with electronic bells and whistles and lights.  I was almost giddy
to find the the original version of the "popper", the push toy that has popping
colored balls, without an electronic part in it.  I too was disheartened by the
idea that the only way to appeal to children was with these electronic versions
of toys that kept my interest without a battery in sight.

Still, I would be ignoring reality if I didn't realize that every day, we have
children in our library who get onto our computers and use the various
"educational" CDs that read stories to them and allow them to interact with the
characters.  In some cases, this story might be the only one that is read to
that child that day. That's a sad comment but in some cases, a true one.  Plus,
there is no reason that the experience has to be isolated and cold.  I've seen
many siblings and parents interact with each other while using these products.
I don't know what the educational impact of these products are but I'm hoping
that for every story read on the computer, children are encouraged to read 5 or
10 books in print.

My point about E-books is that we know that patrons are already using the
interactive CD products. It seems to me that it is a logical extension of these
products to envision e-books with the same interactive qualities.  We can
question the quality or the usefulness of that experience but we can't ignore
that it is going to occur.  I think our challenge is to ensure the interactive
e-books serve to bolster the use of the printed book, not replace it.  I know
that in my experience, no interactive book could ever replace the images and the
questions that reading created in my own young mind.  I would hope that is
something that all children can experience.

Andrew Mutch
Library Systems Technician
Waterford Township Public Library
Waterford, MI

LINDHOLM Janus L wrote:

> I am coming in a little late on this whole train, but I just couldn't resist
> adding my two cents to Andrew's comment about children and interactive
> e-books, especially as a parent.  Children are already over interacting with
> electronics.  The image of a child sitting at a computer and having a book
> read with all kinds of interactive resources may sound wonderful, but it is
> so cold, so impersonal.  It isn't that I am anti-technology.  I have been in
> the computer field for over 20 years.  I guess I'm looking more at the
> social interaction, the isolation that computers create for those that use
> them rather than humans for their entertainment and education....
>
> The opinions that I express are mine and mine alone.  I am not speaking for
> my library or my profession.
>
> Janus Lindholm                 Applications Support Tech. Sr.
> Eugene Public Library          541-682-6894
> Eugene Oregon                  janus.l.lindholm at ci.eugene.or.us
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Andrew Mutch [mailto:amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us]
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 12:58 PM
> > To: Multiple recipients of list
> > Subject: [WEB4LIB] Why eBooks and When?
> >
> >
> > I think eBooks will take off when we see the titles that can
> > truly offer
> > something over and above what the normal printed book can do.
> >  The types of
> > titles that I think have great eBook potential are things
> > like Children's
> > picture books and graphic novels for teens.  How many
> > libraries have Children's
> > stories on CD where the story incorporates music, video and
> > interactive
> > features?  Many are based on traditional print stories but
> > have been turned
> > into multimedia experiences where kids are willing to sit in
> > from of a computer
> > for an extended period of time to read or be read to. Why
> > couldn't this same
> > experience be available in an eBook?  Without that "edge" as
> > many people have
> > noted, there is no compelling reason to read eBooks versus a
> > printed book and
> > many reasons not to do so.  This type of eBook title could
> > justify the cost of
> > the specialized hardware many people associate with eBooks.
> > I think we will
> > continue to see growth in the digital reference titles and as
> > more students use
> > eTextbooks, the demand for these titles will increase.  But I
> > agree, anyone
> > into eBooks better be in for the long haul.
> >
> > Andrew Mutch
> > Library Systems Technician
> > Waterford Township Public Library
> > Waterford, MI
> >