Amazon Ups the Ante

Sliding in a week before Apple’s iPhone event (tomorrow), Amazon announced their revamped Kindle lineup, which includes the new Kindle Fire. This 7″ multi-touch tablet goes well beyond the current Kindles since they include the ability to browse websites, watch movies, download apps, and, of course, read ebooks. Customers with an Amazon Prime membership will have access to thousands of movies and TV shows from the Kindle Fire. Furthermore, the relatively low price at $199 will offer consumers a much cheaper option than Apple’s iPad, which starts at $499. I recommend reading more about Amazon’s press conference and the other Kindles announced at ALA TechSource, but here’s quick video demonstrating the device.

So, how does this impact the library and the college? It’s not difficult to imagine a wider adoption of tablet devices, e-readers, and e-books among students and faculty. What types of new services can the library offer and what steps do you think we should take to be ready?

Check out that iPad!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkeane/5408126721/

When Apple’s original iPad was announced over a year ago in early 2010, there were many (including myself) who questioned the name choice and, more importantly, whether or not it would be a success like so many other Apple products. I think it’s safe to say now that the iPad (both the original and the iPad2) has been the game-changer that so many predicted it would be. Students, teachers, health care professionals, businesses, and even librarians are finding that the iPad can be the perfect tool for certain tasks.

One public library has already decided to start replacing its public desktop computers with iPads. Patrons can check out an iPad for use within the library and the iPads are pre-loaded with helpful apps. It’s not hard to imagine many other public libraries following the same path since iPads provide more mobility to patrons (even if it’s just within the library building) and they can be cheaper than many desktops and laptops purchased for public use. Some libraries, including AHML, are already using iPads and other tablet devices to help provide roving reference and giving presentations at community outreach events.

And it’s not just the public libraries that are experimenting with loaning iPads. Colorado State University’s Morgan Library has ten iPads to check out to students, faculty, and staff for a period of 24 hours. They also have one HDMI adapter that allows someone to connect an iPad2 to any HDMI video display (e.g., a large flat screen television) and project what they are doing on the iPad2. This is great for those who want to run a slideshow, demonstrate an app, browse websites, or show videos to an audience. Briar Cliff University’s Library is also checking out iPads and there’s a thorough description of how and why they’re doing it on the ACRL website.

Some schools, like IIT, are even distributing an iPad to each incoming student. It’s interesting to think about the types of services a library could design if every student had their own iPad. If you want to learn more about how the iPad is being used in education, take a look at Apple Education’s “Learning with iPad” site.

Some questions to consider (feel free to share your thoughts below):

• How does the emergence of the iPad and other tablets impact the library’s mission?
• Would it help to have an iPad for librarians to carry around when assisting patrons away from the reference desk?
• Are there other ways we can connect with students and faculty who might be using these types of devices?
• Would it help students and faculty if we started loaning iPads for in-library or on-campus use?
• How does the emergence of ebooks play into this? What can the library do to help students and faculty get comfortable with using this new format and technology?