CIL 2012 Day 2 - Integrating Tablets & Apps Into the Library

This was a fun interesting session with three presentations. The first two presentations were by children's librarians at Darien Library and Norwalk Library respectively.

Keira Parrott presented Apps, iPads & Tech for Kids @ Darien Library in which she discussed the process her library followed as they looked to find a way to integrate iPads into their programming. Initially they had a wall mounted iPad where they put an “app of the day” that patrons could play with. After that had been a modest success, they decided to try circulating iPads in a kit with different apps installed. They decided what apps to put onto the iPads and developed a process by which the iPads are cleaned (physically and digitally) upon being returned. Some favorite apps Keira mentioned were:

• Don't Let the Pigeon Run this App
• eliasMatch
• PopOut! Peter Rabbit
• Pocket Phonics ABC
• There's a Monster at the end of this Book

She also mentioned that they have programs called “app chats” where parents can come in with their iPads and they discuss apps (for children) that they enjoy. They've also developed a whole suite of technology children's programs:

• Little Clickers (2-5)
• Techsplorers (6-8)
• iKids (9-12)
• Storytubes (reeldirector – make a movie using the iPad)
• CoderDojo

Vicki Oatis provided a different story in her presentation titled Check Out an iPad. Norwalk Public Library is less affluent than Darien, and they couldn't afford to circulate iPads. In fact, they bought iPads as an alternative to buying a new computer since they could get more of them with the money.

At Norwalk theycheck out iPads for an hour for in-house use. After the iPads are returned they get their contents restored (to remove bank logins and anything else people put on them).

Norwalk also has had success using iPads with small storytime groups where they allow children to touch and interact with the device.

To choose what apps go on the iPads they have been relying on Kirkus reviews as well as patron requests and recommendations from blogs, magazines and professionals. Their list of favorite apps includes:

• Storytime (project them on the wall)
  • Sandra Boynton Books
  • Go Away Big Green Monster
  • The Sun Goes to Bed
    
• School Visits:
  • Bartleby's book of Buttons
  • Happy Birthday Sue
  • Spot the Dot
    
• Kids at the table:
  • Real Racing
  • Cookie Doodle

Finally Earl Givens and Art Gutierrez of Emporia State University described their efforts with using Android tablets for teaching an Information Literacy and Technology course. They learned a lot in the process and came up with some innovative methods to get a limited budget stretch as far as it could. They felt that there were a lot of things they could do differently to improve the student experience, but largely it seems that their program was a success that can be built upon.