2. Joyce Valenza, Teacher
Librarian Springfield
Township High School,
SLJ Blogger
Todd Brekhus, President
of Capstone Digital, deter-
mine digital product vision
and strategy
Erin Sullivan, Product
Manager, Cengage
Learning; responsible for
Gale Virtual Reference Library
eBook platform
Marc Aronson, author, editor,
publisher, speaker, historian,
and SLJ blogger
School Library
Without
Walls
62. Todd Brekhus and Capstone Digital
• Todd
– Educator and Tech Director
– One of the creators: MarcoPolo Web Portal
– Education Software Executive
• Capstone
– Non-Fiction
• Capstone Press
• Heinemann-Raintree
• Compass Point Books
• Picture Window Books
– Fiction
• Stone Arch Books
• Picture Window Books
– Digital
• Capstone Digital
63. School Librarian Research
• We launched Capstone Digital in
2010 after nine months of
research
• We interviewed hundreds of
school librarians and district
administrators
• We launched two primary
products: PebbleGo and Capstone
Interactive Library to address
school library and entire school
– Key needs: easy access,
recorded audio, database for
young learners
64. eBooks-- We can do better for kids and schools
• We also learned:
– Elementary kids need more
than an eBook; they expect
more:
• Audio MUST be human
recorded voice –actors
• Include support tools like
highlighting, search (esp.
visual), and curriculum
standards
– Librarians want open,
unlimited access to digital
books; no check in/check out
– Easy-to-use and Internet-
based, not bound to a device,
but flexibility for devices
65. Other Points
• Quality content matters – great books can become
great digital books and databases: kids could rate and
decide
• Personalization of content is critical but this is
somewhat opposed to the traditional open patron
access models (knowing the user)
• Data about the Digital Reader– not just quiz scores!
• Further innovation is required in
– 21st Century Skill areas like:
• social networking for collaboration
• use of improved database-like functions for critical thinking
• improved curricular connections for student self-learning
66. Digital Content and the Librarians Role
• Digital content available everywhere –
not bound to the physical space of the
library - will change the role of the
librarian
• Librarians can focus on using new
digital tools to:
– Engage students to read more
– Build confident readers that take
ownership in their reading growth
– Appeal to student interests and choice
– Encourage the love of reading
– Increase reading stamina
67. Capstone Digital Examples
• Digital product implementations in over 4,000
schools nationwide. Some examples:
– Charleston County, SC
• Used by 72 schools
• Collection turnover increased by 30x
– Average circulation in 1 year for print books = 10
– Average digital book circulation in same period = 337
– Hillsborough County, FL
• In 85 schools, 70,000 books read in first month
• Summer Reading Camp, 42 schools, 160,000 books read during
Summer School
77. Marc Aronson is an author, editor, publisher, speaker,
and historian who believes that young people, especially
pre-teens and teenagers, are smart, passionate, and
capable of engaging with interesting ideas in interesting
ways.
http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/nonfictionmatters
http://www.marcaronson.com/
