A student looking to do research for a project will most likely head to the library. With its many resources – such as autobiographies, encyclopedias and the Internet – the library helps to make research simple and efficient. Soon, students may add another resource to this growing list.
The library will add several hundred more e-books to their list resources, in addition to the 2,500 shared with other high schools campuses in Katy ISD today, for students to take out on their own devices.
“I’m going to buy some just for this school,” Librarian Denise Bassham said. “Some of the e-books are going to be research books, like ‘Opposing Viewpoints’, and novels for students, things they need for class. The others are going to be interesting, fun fiction books the kids like to read. It’ll be a variety of things.”
According to sophomore Andrea Brunal, students would like the new additions to the library because of the convenience of e-books and that backpacks could potentially be lighter. However, she would not use e-books for English class.
“I would take out some books on my Nook – if I were reading the book for fun, then yes, but if I had to annotate it, then I would need a hard copy,” Brunal said.
The e-books will be available for students to use on more than just Kindles; any smart device with internet access will be able to support e-books.
“There will soon be directions [on the KISD website] about how to download them onto a Kindle, iPhone or iPad – pretty much anything,” Bassham said. “Some books are one person use and some are unlimited [meaning several people can view it at the same time]. You check them out just like you check out a book, with your ID number and your username and password, and after three weeks it just kind of disappears from your device.”
Most of the physical books in the library are not being replaced by e-books. Instead, new electronic books are being added in along with their paperback versions, and some are new to the library altogether.
“Not every single book is getting upgraded to an e-book,” Bassham said. “A lot of people like to read on their device, and I’m hoping teachers will use e-books on their SMART Boards in the classroom. I have a list [of] the English Department gave me; I’ve got all the required reading and summer reading for every single grade.”
Despite the new additions coming to the library, some students are still devoted to traditional novels.
“I prefer the amount of books you can have on a tablet and how easy it is to buy the books, but nothing will ever replace the comfort of a paperback book,” sophomore Kyle Kraatz said.
