Category Archives: Special

Weekly Review 1/28/2016

CMLE Updates: State & Regional News

  • The results are in! Your advice on combining media centers More
  • Recap of Snippets and Sneak Peeks event More
  • Spotlight on Books Conference More
  • Updates from your State Librarian More

Upcoming Events and Registration Information

  • Last call: FREE genealogy event More
  • Notable Dates for your Noggin: February More
  • New ELM webinars for spring More

Resources You Can Use

  • ALA Book Award Winners! More
  • Library-produced podcasts More
  • Apps and games for academic libraries More

Tech Bits and Ideas

  • Need tips for buying a laptop? More
  • AASL Recommended App: Touch Van Gogh More

Food for Thought

  • Timely eBook updates More

Just for Fun

  • Safety fails! Do not try this at home! More

Tips on buying a "decent" laptop for under $600

computerDid you receive money during the holidays and are itching to buy yourself a laptop? Are you part of a tech team in your setting and just trying to better understand the justifications for what is being bought? As the author of this piece points out, buying laptops can be tricky business.

This article will break down the ins and outs of your computer purchase.  Need a refresher on key words, concepts,  and specifications?  It’s almost like asking all these questions of that really intelligent person at Office Max or Best Buy, but in the comfort of your own home so you can refer back to the information again. As a bonus, the author gives you three top recommendations for a laptop around $600 or less.

Find the best laptop

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/(Simon Hattinga Verschure), licensed under CC0 1.0

AASL Recommended App: Touch Van Gogh

touch_vangoghThe American Association of School Librarians (AASL) came out with their 25 Best Apps for Teaching & Learning. The apps were chosen because they foster innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration.

The Touch Van Gogh app reveals the secrets in and behind the paint on Vincent van Gogh’s canvases. While exploring “the location, history, style and composition of the paintings, students will enjoy rubbing the screen to reveal art hidden under some of the paintings as they discover that Van Gogh recycled his canvases.” AASL recommends using this app for art classes studying composition, color, style, media and Van Gogh’s works.

This award-winning app is FREE for iOS devices and on Google Play. AASL recommends it for Upper Elementary, Middle, and High School students.

Touch Van Gogh App – details & download

Updates on eBooks, eLibraries, and ePublishing

photo-1446501356021-84cf6b450d07Wondering why I have not been giving you more updates on eBooks? I admit it, I have become overwhelmed and could only wonder how to do so in the best way. In the past, I relied on eBook guru Sue Polanka and her No Shelf Required site. However, just recently, when I visited her site, I was delighted to see that she has started publishing Paul Biba’s weekly news compilation on eBooks, eLibraries, and ePublishing. As these topics swirl and morph at a rapid pace, it is a lot to keep up on in a timely fashion and Paul’s diligence on these fronts is most welcome!

Paul is  the former Editor-in-Chief of TeleRead, the Internet’s first blog devoted to ebooks. He now runs a curated Twitter feed on these subjects. Check out his listing of those tweets for the week ending January 24th.  Pick and choose what is of most interest to you same as you do with our Weekly Review, which is a recap of CMLE blog posts for the week.

If you are interested in following the feed in real time, follow Paul on Twitter: @paulkbiba

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (Matt Jones), licensed under CC0 1.0