An Infopeople Online Learning Course

Start:
October 21st, 2014 12:00 PM
End:
November 17th, 2014 4:30 PM

Debbie BaaskeDawne TortorellaCourse Instructors:  Dawne Tortorella and Debbie Baaske

  • Do you feel anxious when a patron asks for help in downloading an e-book?
  • Does your library want to share staff expertise in accessing e-books to a wider audience?
  • Have you ever been frustrated when faced with troubleshooting an e-book download problem?
  • Would you like a more organized and proactive approach to assisting patrons with downloading e-books?
  • Do you want to build foundational knowledge that can support growth in e-book technology?

This course is designed for front-line support staff responsible for helping patrons and colleagues download e-books. The primary focus is to build practical skills and confidence in dealing with the myriad combinations of devices, formats, and e-book providers. No doubt you have encountered several devices, e-book collections, and interfaces that challenge even the seasoned e-reading champion! The exciting growth of the industry and technology supporting e-reading promises even more twists in the road, so let’s create a recipe for success in supporting e-books!

We will start with understanding variations in the key components of a successful e-book download experience by reviewing a mix of e-reader devices, multiple file formats, and e-book providers with their specific download interfaces. Using templates and process flows, we will then break the e-book download process down into manageable steps.

During this course, Debbie and Dawne will help you:

  • Identify and differentiate various e-reader devices and processes required to transfer e-book content to them
  • Manage e-book apps on a variety of devices
  • Identify and customize support material for your patrons, based on your library's e-book offerings
  • Analyze and resolve common trouble spots in the array of download scenarios

Through this course you will gain confidence in supporting this growing and critical library resource. Being prepared to deal with the expected, as well as the unexpected, will help ease the tension and anxiety associated with front-line e-book support.

Course Description: This four-week course includes weekly course reading and examples, practical handouts and assignment options and discussions, to be done anytime during the week. You will choose from several assignment options to build skills and experience working with eBooks. You will learn from example, as well as experiment with your own scenarios.

In addition to the weekly reading and assignments, there will be an opportunity to join a Facebook group to share resources, articles, and exchange ideas with previous and current course participants.

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

  • Week 1: Overview of E-reader Devices
    • Inventory of primary e-reader device families (e.g., Kindle, Nook, Sony)
    • Tablet, smartphone, and desktop e-reading
    • Wifi vs. proprietary networks
  • Week 2: E-book File Formats and Apps
    • Comparison of the most popular file formats and variations on those formats (azw, epub, mobi, pdf)
    • Role of Adobe Digital Edition (ADE)
    • Distinguishing platform app “stores” (Apple vs. Android)
    • Identifying, searching, and installing device and format viewing apps (e.g., Kindle, Nook)
  • Week 3: E-book Lending from Content Providers
    • Free e-book providers available
    • Prevalent e-content providers (e.g., 3M Cloud Library, Baker & Taylor 360, Ebrary, EBSCO, Freading, OverDrive)
    • Tracking and evaluating e-content provider resources
  • Week 4: Putting It All Together – Developing & Testing E-content Scenarios
    • Developing an inventory of e-book marketing & promotional materials
    • Review download stumper
    • Diverse genres available in e-content

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend an average of 2½ hours per week, for a total of ten course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments, discussions, interviews, and online meetings. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: Library staff interested in knowing how to download eBooks or assist library users and colleagues in the download process. Front-line support staff will particularly benefit from this course. For optimal applied learning, registrants should have access to eBook lending through their work or home library. Free eBook lending sites can be used for the exercises if you do not have these lending agreements in place at your library.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.

Payment If Paying By Check: PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: PENINSULA LIBRARY SYSTEM

Your invoice will be emailed to the email address of the person who completed the registration. If that is not the person paying the invoice please forward invoice to the appropriate person. Payment is due within 30 days. If you have any questions about your invoice or payment please contact Gini Ambrosino at [email protected].

After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for two more weeks, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.

Keywords: ebook