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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

What's Going on After Six Years in Circulation with eReaders, Kindles and iPads?


 


Six years ago we began the digital e-Reader journey at the Lake Worth Campus at Palm Beach State College.  Since the inception of our Kindle 1st Generation inventory in Circulation, we have added close to 100 devices including the Kindle Fire, Nook Color, iPad 1st Generation and iPad Air.




In the two months of September and October alone we have two teachers using the Kindle Fire for three class assignments.
 
Professor Salvatore Manuele teaches Human Resources Management-MAN3301.  He has given the students a deadline of September 26th to read three chapters of  The 2010 Meltdown: Solving the Impending Jobs Crisis by Edward E. Gordon.  Technical Services is quick in processing, purchasing and downloading titles from Amazon.  Teachers and students have exactly what they need when they need it most of the time!
 
Dr. Richard Shepardson teaches Advanced Reading-EAP1620 and has worked closely with the library these past years to enhance student's reading skills using technology and our Kindles. He has a group project Oct. 2nd and requested 6 Kindle Fires to do a Key Word Search project in groups in the classroom using the title The Language of Flowers.
 
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, is this year's  winning title for the Read Together Palm Beach County 2014 program.




The book Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is the next reading Kindle project for
Dr. Shepardson's EAP1620 class.
 


Breaking Night by Liz Murray is this year's Common Reader for First Year Experience students at Palm Beach State College. We've added several copies to our Kindle devices to assist students in the Introduction to the College Experience-SLS1501 classes.

The Kindles are 7 day loans with no renewals. After a class project the students are still allowed to borrow a Kindle to continue reading the title introduced in class or the many other titles available.

 


 
In the past we've added the Read Together Palm Beach County winning titles including the runner ups for students, faculty and staff to enjoy on these Kindle devices.





Tuesday, April 22, 2014

iPad Air-Mac Mini-Bretford PowerSync Cart

 
 
We have added 14 NEW iPad Air devices for the library installed in a Bretford PowerSync Cart to maintain the devices.  After using the 1st Generation iPads for the last 4 years, it's going to be an exciting journey to implement these into our already growing supply of  iPads, eReaders and tablets.  These include the 1st generation Kindles, 1st generation iPads, Kindle2's, Kindle3's, DX,  B/W Sony and Nook, Kindle Fire and the Nook Color.
 
 
 
7.5 millimeters thin-weighs one pound
 
 
 
The Retina display sits inside thinner bezels with a very sleek enclosure!
 
9.7" Display
2048x1536 Resolution
5m iSight with front Facetime HD camera
A7 chip, M7 coprocessor
 
 


 
All pictures above-Image Credit: http://www.apple.com/ipad-air/
 
 Dual microphones improve audio and suppress background noise for video recording, FaceTime calls, and voice recognition using Siri.
 
 How to maintain so many?
The Bretford Power Sync cart for iPads!


Image Credit: http://www.apple.bretford.com/products/powersynccartforipad

The PowerSync Cart for iPad stores, charges, syncs, and transports up to 30 iPad devices at one time. This cart also keeps our content in sync with our iTunes® library via the Mac Mini.

The cart connects our 14 iPad Air devices to our Mac Mini, at the same time installs apps, books, videos, music, and Podcasts to each iPad, according to our requirements.

As we process these devices for student loans in Tech Services, we will post our progress.  We received the 1st generation iPad's on opening day, April 3, 2010.  Presently these iPads are circulated overnight for student loans.  All other eReaders and tablets are available as 7 day loans.