Winter 2013 eBook Instruction Tour

During the first nine weeks of 2013 I conducted 18 eBook instruction events at nine library locations in the county. Nine of them were eBook Clinics, 2 hour workshops that cover the basics of using the library’s eBook collections. The other nine were eBook Consultations, one-on-one appointments with people.

A total of 154 people attended these events. The attendance was down from last year’s post holiday eBook tour. I think that’s a good thing. I think it shows that people are:

  • Getting the hang of using our eBook collections.
    • Or know someone who has already gotten the hang of it that can help them.
  • Purchasing tablets/smartphones instead of eInk eReaders.
    • The OverDrive app (available on all major mobile operating systems including Kindle Fires and Nook HDs) makes using our eBook collections much easier.
  • Getting their questions answered when they visit their library.
    • Library staff is more knowledgeable and comfortable with our eBook collections and how they work.
      • Maybe the staff training in December and eBook page revisions helped?

The audiences for the eBook clinics were overwhelmingly 50+ with most people 60+. This is just like last year.

I have scheduled a new round of eBook Consultations for April and May. I enjoy the consultations. I like being able to help people individually. It gives them the chance to ask ‘silly’ questions they may not ask in a room full of people and they get answers specific to them and their device.

I tried to take pictures of the attendees at the eBook clinics this year. I got pictures of 6 of the 9 clinics.

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I’d be scared if I saw a bear

The youngest’s preschool class has been talking about emotions this week. It is Valentines week so it makes sense.

Today her teacher sent home a list of the class’ emotions during the week. I guess she asked each one how he or she was feeling and wrote them down. Some of the children mention what makes them happy (my sister, Valentines day, school etc.) others, what makes them mad or sad.

My daughter’s response:

I would feel scared if I saw a bear!

That’s my girl! I would too.

I wish I knew what the exact question was. I’ll have to ask her about it tomorrow.

Leap Motion – a replacement for keyboards and mice?

Read this post on GigaOm then watch this video.

If you don’t want to read the entire post at least read the paragraph below. Then watch the video.

The company, which was founded in 2010 has built a peripheral device that you plug into a computer or laptop that can enable a gesture-based user interface that incorporates all directions — not just a flat perspective. Some have described it as a Kinect for computers. The device has a 150-degree field of view and can accurately track the movements of all 10 fingers down to the 1/100th of a millimeter, which is apparently pretty darn impressive according to reviewers.

How cool is that!

Not sure if it is something the library could use soon but it is a very interesting bit of technology to keep an eye on.