Digital Literacy & Ebooks: The Grand Challenge

Jill Hurst-Wahl@jill_hw

What type of computing device do you use for pleasure?

SmartphoneTablet computer/iPadeReaderLaptop computerDesktop computer

QUICK POLL

DIGITAL LITERACY: SETTING THE STAGE

“Literacy represents a person’s ability to read, write, and solve problems using both spoken and written language. Digital literacy is the ability to apply those same skills using technology such as desktop computers, ebook readers and smartphones.”

Digital Literacy Standards for New Yorkers

diglitNY.org

Wh

at is

dig

ital

litera

cy

?

Critical ThinkingCreativity and InnovationCommunication and CollaborationTechnology Usage for Personal

DevelopmentDigital Citizenship and Ethics

Digital Literacy Standards for New YorkersdiglitNY.org

Digital Literacy Principles

≠Digital literacy ≠ Print

literacyDigital literacy ≠

Technology literacy

But you can’t be digitally literate without either!

You can’t use an ebook without being digitally literacy.

45% of Americans own smartphones66% of those ages 18-29 own

smartphones 68% of those living in households earning

$75,000 own them

Statistics: Pew Internet & American Life

(September 2012)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/intelfreepress/8389435615/

33% owns a device that can be used as an ereaderMore tablets than ereaders

Surge in “ereader” ownership during December

Most likely to read e-books include:Those with college or graduate degreesThose who live in households earning > $75,000

Those whose ages fall between 30 and 49

Statistics: Pew Internet & American Life

(December 2012)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mpimagery/4564521012/

“Some 14% of readers read an e-book and a printed book in the past year. Those book readers in dual platforms were asked which type of book is better for different reading activities… Generally, urban readers in both formats are more likely to prefer e-books for many reading activities, while rural readers who have read in both formats tend to prefer print.”

Reading Habits in Different Communities (Pew, Dec. 2012)

Quotes:Among Americans who read e-books, those under age 30 are more likely to read their e-books on a cell phone (41%) or computer (55%) than on an e-book reader such as a Kindle (23%) or tablet (16%).

Many of these young readers do not know they can borrow an e-book from a library, and a majority of them express the wish they could do so on pre-loaded e-readers.

Young Americans & Reading (Pew, Oct. 2012)

In 2010, the US ranked 15th out of the top 31 countries in terms of broadband penetration. [a]

Top 40 books read by high school students are at a 5th grade reading level (average). [b]

“More than 50% of students entering two-year colleges & nearly 20% of those entering four-year universities are placed in remedial classes.” [c]

More Statistics

At some point everyone will have an ebook reader, but the need for ebooks will continue to grow

Prices for ebooks are decliningMore authors self-publishing ebooksGrowing number of sites for socially

interactive ebook reviewsBrick-n-mortar booksellers are decliningDigital “first sale doctrine” still a problem

More…

Nicole Henning, Reading on E-Book Devices: the user experience (2010)http://www.slideshare.net/nic221/reading-on-ebook-devices-the-user-experience

What do we do when we

read?

OUR CHALLENGE: HOW CAN WE HELP?

Let’s play to our strengths.

Provision / Selection of Technology

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marusula/8052330432/

Selection of “Materials”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfryer/8528609655/

Instruction

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wustllibraries/7790155484/

Our Next Actions?

http://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2013/1/9/a-big-thank-you-to-all-our-supporters.html