Jennifer Clagett

SLM 521

eReading

eBooks, Online Media, and Digital Readers

After reviewing some of the sites containing web-based books, newspapers, and magazines, I have mixed feelings about the usefulness of these media sources. As a future English teacher, I think the wealth of information these sites contain is considerable. There are thousands of books from the public domain that are available for download, and free to the public. Many of these are literary classics, which are excellent supplemental materials that can be used in the classroom. The downside is that many of the free eBooks aren't easy on the eyes and they are difficult to read, especially at a computer screen. If you want eBooks that resemble print versions, you will, more than likely, have to pay for it. If I had to chose a favorite format, I would pick print materials. But for texts needed in a pinch, media sources are certainly very convenient. Along with eBooks, there are many online newspapers and magazines. I read a number of online news sources, such as NPR.com and WashingtonPost.com. These are great sources for book reviews and book lists, and I use them to peruse titles I find interesting. In addition these sites have helped me become familiar with a number of young adult authors, such as M.T. Anderson, who was interviewed by both sources. I would definitely use online newspaper articles and features in my classroom. They are easy to peruse, interactive, and contain many colorful images students would enjoy. I have nearly almost given up reading print versions of the newspapers. Online news updates are available faster (you have to wait until the next day for the print version), they are free, most sites are easy to navigate, you can easily search for topics of interest, and there is no newsprint to rub off on your fingertips. Though I feel that online newspapers have much more to offer than their print versions, I am less convinced about online magazines. Many of these sites do not offer the full number of articles that the print version contains. Many magazine sites act as a supplement to the full amount of material found in print versions. I subscribe to a number of magazines that, in every issue, include highlights of what's featured on their websites for the month. A number of the features are extensions, activities, or additional information about articles found in the print version. I think that many magazines are best read in both print and online formats.

Digital readers are of increasing interest to me. Though I love the feel of a book in my hand: the smell of the paper and print, and the easy ability to make notes in the margins, I am very drawn to the idea of having an entire library available at my fingertips. Digital readers make this possible. Many of the new versions have addressed some of the concerns I initially had: they have grey screens to help reduce eye strain, you can adjust the size of the type, and some even allow you to take notes and save them in the text. However, the expense of these devices is an issue. Most digital readers cost upwards of $199. I have also wondered about library borrowing on digital readers. While a great number of libraries do have online eBooks available for download, the selection isn't what it is for print books. The same can be said about many of the online eBook stores. Not everything you would be able to find in print is yet available in this format. However, the list of what's available does continue to grow. I would definitely be interested in purchasing one, though the one I've had my eye on, Sony's Digital Reader Touch, is a bit out of my price range. $299 is a bit more than I can afford at the present. I believe that if the prices on these gadgets dropped another $100 or so, we might see them begin to take off. Unfortunately, I think that these devices appeal to a smaller market of readers. I wonder, especially since sales never took off as hoped, if these devices could ever really compete with iPods, or other media devices that don't require the concentration that reading demands. That being said, I would still recommend digital readers to any individual who loves to read, and who reads widely. I think the technology will continue to improve, as will the availability of more titles. I saw a student the other day, who was reading from one, and wondered whether this kind of technology might be a gateway to reconnect students with reading. Only time will tell.

eBook/Newspaper Sites I've Found Useful

Google Books: A huge online selection of books to review, with links to purchase or borrow.

http://books.google.com/books

Free eBooks: A collection of free eBooks. Contains classics, and contemporary books to download.

http://www.free-ebooks.net/

Project Gutenberg: An eBook collection in multiple formats, includes some audio samples.

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

The Washington Post: Local and national news source with weekly Books section.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/

NPR: News source with book lists and recommendations.

http://www.npr.org/