The LITA Guide to No- or Low-Cost Technology Tools for Libraries

(Paperback)

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Description

The LITA Guide to No- or Low-Cost Technology Tools for Libraries provides a practical guide on how to find and use technology tools for a variety of purposes in libraries and, more broadly, in education. Each topic showcases two technology tools in detail and discusses additional tools and provides examples of how librarians or educators are using them in libraries and schools.

Types of tools covered are:
Video creation tools, such as PowToon and Animaker, can be used to create animated videos to tell patrons about a new service or teach students about search strategies.Screencasts includes tools like Jing or Screencast-O-Matic, which can be used to show how to use a new library database or service.Collaboration tools, including tools such as Padlet or Lino It, can be used for student collaboration or teamwork with colleagues and sharing project ideas quickly and easily.Assessment tools such as Quizizz and Kahoot allow for gamified assessment of student or patron knowledge.

Reviews

The LITA Guide to No- or Low-Cost Technology Tools for Libraries is the newest addition to the "LITA Guide Series," which provides timely, practical information on the use of library technologies. Kirsch contributes a compendium of tool comparisons organized broadly around the topics of instruction and outreach. Each short chapter features recommended tools for activities such as multimedia content creation, assessment, and marketing of library collections and services. Every tool is given a detailed assessment for a variety of practical library scenarios, and compared to another similar tool for the same task. Kirsch includes screenshots, real-world examples of each tools deployment in libraries, and brief notes on additional tools for the same purpose. The sheer variety of tools and tasks addressed in this book make it more suitable for solo librarians whose work includes a little bit of everything, and instructional services librarians who teach other librarians how to use technology.



Summing Up: Recommended. Professionals and practitioners.

* Choice Reviews *
Libraries of all types and sizes can benefit from Kirschs value-added recommendations. * Library Journal *
This book stands out by providing librarians practical guidance in the form of best practices and planning gleaned from Kirschs personal experience at the University of South Carolina Upstate and other published materials. . . This practical guide for selecting and implementing effective, economical technology tools would make a useful addition to any academic librarys professional collection. * Public Services Quarterly *
An explosion of education, outreach and collaboration technologies challenges librarians to choose those that will best advance their ability to educate students, connect with community members and improve library services. Kirschs guide is the solution they need because it does all the groundwork for selecting the best, most accessible technologies and then offers smart, sensible tips for how to get the most out of them without breaking the library budget. Librarians lack the time to learn it all when it comes to the technologies they need to be their most productive. Thanks to Kirsch, thats now one less thing to worry about. -- Steven Bell, associate university librarian for research and instructional services, Temple University
This easy-to-read book provides useful descriptions, how-to information, real-world examples, and comparisons of a wide variety of highly accessible technology tools. It is likely to inspire new projects at a wide variety of libraries. -- Mary Broussard, associate professor, instructional services librarian, and coordinator of reference and web services, Lycoming College
This book will be especially helpful for instruction librarians looking for easy ways to increase collaboration and quickly assess learning in their classrooms. All the tools Kirsch describes are free (or almost!), which is an added bonus. -- Megan Hodge, assistant head for teaching and learning and assistant professor, Virginia Commonwealth University
Breanne Kirsch draws on her years of hands-on instructional technology experience to highlight practical, low-cost tools that will empower both new and experienced library professionals. For each tool, she identifies advantages and challenges as well as easy to-follow implementation tips. This guide is accessible to those on a tight budget and incredibly useful to those wanting to spice up their instruction and outreach. -- Rachel Vacek, head of design and discovery, Library Information Technology, University of Michigan Library

Author Bio

Breanne A. Kirsch is a public services librarian at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina and the Coordinator of Emerging Technologies. She has an MLIS from Dominican University and was a 2011 American Library Association Emerging Leader and a past Chair of both the Imagineering Interest Group and the Game Making Interest Group within the Library and Information Technology Association. She collaborated with four other librarians in South Carolina on an ILEAD USA grant funded project to develop the Find Your Hat website, which reviews 50 different free or low cost technology tools and how they can be used in libraries.