New free webinar: Introducing the Book as iPad App

CHICAGO — ALA TechSource is offering a new free webinar, Introducing the Book as iPad App. At 2 p.m. EDT on Monday, July 23, its expert panel will provide an overview of the ALA Annual Conference from a technology perspective. Registration for this free event is available at http://goo.gl/NMM8m.

iPads are everywhere. Some publishers are experimenting with a new kind of book, published as an app. These books are distinct from the mostly-text e-books you might read with the Kindle or Nook apps. Drawing from all the functionality of the iPad platform, creators may extend the book, presenting a new immersive experience for readers. As hybrids mixing elements of film, videogames and social media in with the text traditional to the book, this new kind of book challenges the notion of what a book is. For librarians, they offer new opportunities in evaluation, selection, and services.

Join in this free webinar and:

• see demos of fiction and nonfiction titles, including children’s books and graphic novels;
• discuss the qualities of a delightful reading experience;
• explore what these changes might mean for readers, libraries and publishers;
• spark ideas for creative programs and services that you can offer in your library related to iPad book apps.

This fall, Nicole Hennig will be teaching a four-week course that explores this topic in-depth. In that course you’ll learn how to find and evaluate the best book apps and what to include when reviewing them. You’ll come away with several ideas for creative programs and services that you can offer in your library related to these apps. By attending this webinar, you’ll receive a coupon giving you a discount on registration.

About the Presenter

Nicole Hennig is head of the User Experience Group for the MIT Libraries. Her expertise includes user experience studies, mobile Web, mobile apps and the user experience of e-reading. She presents frequently on these topics at national and regional conferences. She's the winner of several awards, including the MIT Libraries Infinite Mile Award for Innovation and Creativity, the MIT Excellence Award for Innovation Solutions and the ASIS&T Chapter Member of the Year.

Hennig is the co-author of the popular website, Apps for Academics, and teaches the online course Apps4Librarians. She co-created the "betas" section of the MIT Libraries website and encourages hands-on experimentation as the best way to learn. She is also co-founder of a startup called FeedWelder, an easy-to-use Web tool for curating and displaying RSS feed content on your website.

Register today!

ALA TechSource Workshops and Webinars are designed to give you and your staff the opportunity to participate in a hands‐on learning experience that will help you make the best technology decisions for your library.

ALA TechSource is a publishing imprint of the American Library Association. ALA TechSource publishes Library Technology Reports and the ALA TechSource Blog.