For immediate release | June 3, 2014

Tablet computers in school libraries and classrooms discussed in new e-book

CHICAGO — According to Pew Research, nearly a quarter of teens already own a tablet computer, with younger children not far behind. With the use of these handheld devices continuing to grow by leaps and bounds each year, tablets are coming to your school district soon, if they haven't already. “Tablet Computers in School Libraries and Classrooms,” published as an e-book by ALA Editions, speaks directly to librarians and educators working with young people, pointing the way towards intelligent, constructive use of tablets to attain educational goals. Edited by Heather Moorefield-Lang, Carolyn Meier and Rebecca K. Miller, the e-book is available from the ALA Store as well as many e-book vendors. Offering specific guidance for the K-12 setting, the authors:

  • present case studies from a range of libraries, showing you how to create attention-grabbing programs for early learners, integrate tablets into classroom instruction and serve special needs students;
  • include eight adaptable, active-learning lessons that will help you get started quickly, ranging from using tablets to interact with the Caldecott awards to a QR codes scavenger hunt;
  • detail the evaluation criteria used by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Best Apps for Teaching and Learning Committee, along with the list of selected apps.

Moorefield-Lang is the education and applied social sciences librarian at Virginia Tech. She is the chair of the American Association of School Librarians Best Websites for Teaching and Learning Committee. Her current research is involved with the success and challenges of 3D printers in libraries and schools at every type and level. She is also delving into the research of digital citizenship and the online presence of our digital futures and afterlife.



Meier is the first year instruction librarian in Newman Library at Virginia Tech. She is a past co-chair of the Library Instruction Round table (LIRT) Transition to College committee. While at Virginia Tech, she developed and implemented an online research course for grad students and with other librarians in designing online modules for first year students. Her work and research interests focus on information literacy, assessment, and new methods for improving instruction and finding new technologies to reach students.



Miller is the college librarian for science, life science, and engineering at Virginia Tech. Previously, she served as the digital technologies librarian at Louisiana State University and has published several articles on the topic of technology and instruction. Currently, she serves on the editorial boards of three journals and holds leadership positions in both national and state level professional organizations.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. Contact us at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.

Related Links

"Tablet Computers in School Libraries and Classrooms"

"Tablet Computers in the Academic Library"

"Rethinking Reference and Instruction with Tablets"

Contact:

Rob Christopher

Marketing Coordinator

American Library Association

ALA Publishing

rchristopher@ala.org

312-280-5052