KENT COUNTY, Mich. — It used to be the act of reading a book meant just that, holding a book and reading it.
But technology has dramatically changed reading and made it more engaging and fun for children.
KDL Branch Manager Lulu Brown said this doesn’t mean printed books are ever going to go away. “There's something about holding a printed book in your hand,” Brown said. “But let's be realistic.
If you look around the library at any given time, (kids) being able to utilize (technology) sort of learning and engaging with them in fun ways, allows them to really engage with materials.”
And they do. iVox books provide immersive reading experiences where the stories actually come to life, allowing the reader to get involved.
Playaway products allow kids to select a book, pair-in some headphones, and listen-on-the-go.
Libraries have plenty of eBooks and readers to check out.
Brown said it’s all about access … and fun.
Emphasis on the fun.
“When kids are playing, they learn better,” said Brown. “This has been proven over and over. It's why we offer our wonder nook spaces, because we know the importance of social emotional learning.
We know the importance of gamification with learning, and we really want to fight that third reading level slump that we're seeing in Michigan, because we have really low literacy rates, so we want to make sure that kids are engaging and having fun.”
That means constantly growing the library’s collection to provide these digital natives with the latest in technology and a variety of experiences. “The Library and Learning is about language,” said Brown. “It's about connection. We have tons of programs that bring people in, but really the goal is, how do we connect you to resources? How do we connect you with information? How do we make sure that when you leave from us, that you're able to read above a third-grade level, because that's going to serve you a long time, that you're able to comprehend what your boss in the future might actually be telling you.”
Research shows technology-based reading experiences can improve things like fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, as well as many other literacy skills.
So, FEAR NOT that tablet or other reading device your child wants to check out at the library. In fact, give it a try.
You might just create a voracious reader and that bodes well for the future.