ESL: English Second Language

The library system where I work serves a population that is ~30% Hispanic as well as having Russian and Vietnamese families. There is often a request for ESL resources like that of Rosetta Stone (as well as free classes).

Aside from the database Powerspeak Languages, we offer a variety of ESL sets from Ingles Sin Barreras to Learning English steps 1-2-3. I just saw however that the US Department of State has an American English website and a new game called Trace Effects. The Digital Shift provides a review and I logged in to see what it was like. The opening narrative is a bit cheesy, but the game requires you to move around and engage in conversation and tasks, which require you to use certain prescribed etiquette, hence the learning aspect. This is how Americans speak, these are the formalities of interaction.

My one gripe is that everything is in English and so a true beginner is not going to know what is going on and on the flip side someone who understands the English to navigate the game may find the scenarios tiresome. But, it may provide a nice review and hey, it's a game.

App Reviews

I started out with Wired Magazine's App Guide ($11). Love it and I have a goal to try at least one app from every section for the Android. However, Wired's Guide doesn't have any children's games/apps. I remembered that the School Library Journal reviews apps and technology, so I stole the most recent print copy from the children's librarians at my branch (Oct 2012) and I'll be listing the ones that I'd like to try below. Online, the column name is "Touch and Go" and is archived under the Blogs and Columns link

I also eavesdropped on a conversation two children's librarians were having regarding the Scholastic Warehouse sale they had attended. So I attended it and picked up a flyer for storia , the e-reader for Scholastic Books which comes with 5 free books and which received an editor's choice award from Children's Technology Review. CTR participates in a few awards presented at the yearly Consumer Electronics Show and the annual Bologna Children’s Book Fair(!), so, I think I've finally found my resources.

Book Apps I wish to check out in the future:

• The Going to Bed Book by Boynton and app created by Loudcrow interactive
• All of these- SLJ's top 10 apps of 2012
• The SLJ 2012 Halloween Book Apps Review. 

Other Apps to Check out

• Tate Modern Art Terms - currently only for iPad

Tech to check out

• https://www.remind101.com/learn_more
• http://www.codecademy.com/ JavaScript coding for kids
• (and while I'm at it, be sure to look at SLJ's 2012 top 10 tech for School libraries)

Publisher's Weekly 11/12/12

These are notes for myself. They are essentially the books I thought looked interesting from a collection development ptv for the Pub Weekly 11/12/12. There are also some things I note that I just want to be aware of, sort of trending topics of interest to me. Will I do this for every Pub Weekly I come across? Possibly.

E-comics:

• iPad- Dim Sum Warriors (Yumcha Studios)
• iPad only: King Fu Guide to Romance
• iPad only: Stir Fried Detective

Does overdrive have comics?- Yes, but they are simple ePub files and not formatted for comics display the way a comics app will format and display. And the one that I tested for download to my mobile reader (Android) does not allow wireless download. I have to first download it to the computer and then transfer it to my device. (LAME!)

Mystery

• Classic in the Clouds by Myers, Amy
• Moon Underfoot
• Russian Donation by Spielberg
• Immortal by Crawford

Literature

• White Dog Fell From the Sky by Morse
• Heft by Moore
• Canada by Ford

Check out the iPad Mini! ... maybe not- screen resolution

Romance

• Red by Kinsey (erotica)
• Please, Sir (Submissive)
• Look for "sweet stories" (no/low sex) by Amazon Montlake Romance, St. MArtin's Press, HarperCollins & Harlequin Heartwarming

Mystery/ Thriller

• The Dinner by Koch
• The Hard Bounce by Robinson- in Spanish?
• The List by Tanabe - in Spanish?
• Adam in Eden by Fuentes - in Spanish?

 Paperback Bestsellers

• My Kind of Christmas by Carr, R.
• Micro by Crichton
• Perks of Being a Wallflower by 
• Practical Paleo by Sanfilippo
• Team of Rivals by Goodwin

Catalog Features - can we recommend other titles from within an item record by Subject (for reference?)
Be sure to look at:

• iBookstore App's Shakespearience by Sourcebooks and DK line
• Also be aware that ePub3 is coming for standard multimedia ebook format.

Sci/Fi, Fantasy and Horror

•  Impulse by Gould (part 3 of the Jump series that we have)

Non-fiction

• Here there, elsewhere : stories from the road by least heat moon
• Stay up la street art by daichendt
• She spiritual but not religious is not enough by daniel

No Time for a Program? Set out a Maker Space

Actually, I was thinking that I didn't have enough time to write up, submit and have my proposal approved in time for the holidays. (I was thinking of doing a letter writing program.) So, instead, I pulled out my supply of holiday cards and stationary, set out a small table and chair next to my book display on the theme of "write a friend a letter" month and stocked it with the cards and a few pens and markers. Anyone who walks in is invited to take a moment and write a letter to whomever is in their thoughts.

This is especially cool for kids and parents to teach them about letter writing.