Message
to the community from Luren E. Dickinson:
Ereader or tablet device? That
was the recent headline presenting the dilemma facing many shoppers this
holiday season. Electronics have been
hot items for a number of years with DVD players, laptops, and widescreen TVs
as recent favorites.
Shaker Library wants to stay at the forefront of this trend
and, thanks to Friends of the Shaker Library, we have been able to invest in a
number of these portable electronic pieces as a way of both helping our
employees to become more familiar with the new technologies and providing
opportunities for the public to “try” before they “buy” any specific item.
Of the items we purchased, the “oldest” is the iPod Touch,
which was released in September 2007. It can be used as a media player, a
personal digital assistant, and a handheld game console, as well as a Wi-Fi
mobile device. More than 60 million
units of the “iTouch” have been sold.
The newest device we have is the Kindle Fire, made available
in mid-November. This Android-based
computer tablet is a great enhancement over the original black and white Amazon
Kindle eBook reader that has been produced in multiple versions. We have the Kindle and the Kindle Touch.
Approximately half of the 12 million electronic readers sold in 2010 were
produced by Amazon.
Of course, it is the iPad that has created the most “buzz”
since Apple began selling this tablet computer almost 2 years ago. Shaker
Library bought the newer iPad 2 that came out in March. More than 15 million iPads were sold before
the iPad 2 came out.
In addition to the above, we also have three Nook devices
produced by Barnes & Noble. The
inexpensive Nook Simple Touch has a small black and white screen and is
designed exclusively for reading. The
Nook Color has Wi-Fi and Internet browsing capability. Released at the same time as the Kindle
Fire, the Nook Tablet is set to compete with its Amazon counterpart, as well as
the iPad 2, and other tablet computers.
Rounding out the Shaker Library’s showcase of digital devices, we also
have the Motorola Xoom and SONY S Tablet, as well as the SONY Reader.
If you are interested in examining any of these gadgets, we
will have them available at several Tablet and eReader showcases at both Main
Library and Bertram Woods Branch. Please check the website for the dates and
times.
Our popular “Caps for Kids” community service knitting
project continues through December 15 when Knit Night knitters will collect the
final creations to deliver to Project Act. Watch the project’s progress as the
caps are hung around the Woods Branch Circulation Desk.
The Civic Commons will present a Mobile Town Hall with Nina
Turner from 11:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 6 at the Main Library.
Authors with Barry Herman and Walter Grossman will speak about their book,
Cleveland’s Vanishing Sacred Architecture at 7 pm Wednesday, December 7 and
James Woods will speak about his book, Out and About with Winsor French at 7
p.m. December 14 at Bertram Woods Branch. “Poetry in the Woods” will take on a
lighter fare with poets Dan Rourke and Joe Toner at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 13
at Bertram Woods Branch.
Enjoy the holiday season and don’t forget to give the gift
of reading. Can’t afford a gift? Your personal list of favorite books and a
Shaker Library card can fill the bill. And if you are seeking to honor that
special someone who has everything, consider a gift to the Shaker Library
Foundation in his or her name.
Luren E. Dickinson, Director