New Media Center Adopts New Technology, e-books

As students move into the new high school next year they will find new technologies in a revamped media center that is ready for the 21st century.

The new media center will be equipped with new technology, such as faster computers and e-books.  THS librarian Carol Morison hopes that students will be able to make more use of the new media center, and that it will save the school some money in the long run.

“I’m really looking forward to the better technology… I hope that students will be able to make use of the e-book program.”

Many THS classes have already begun to use online textbooks instead of the old print editions.  “I am always looking for ways to save some of the library’s money.” Morison stated.  The digital versions of books, especially textbooks, are usually less expensive.

Morison is worried about adopting the new technology too quickly.  “Technology moves quickly, you probably don’t even remember 8-track tapes, and then we had cassettes, then CDs, and now we have moved onto a new digital format…I like to wait and make sure that the technology comes through.”

While the potential for using e-books is exciting, Morison worries about the number of students who would actually check out e-books if the library offered them.  “Not many students seem to have kindles, nooks, or other readers…I’m not sure how many people will use them.”

To save money and attempt to increase usage of the program, Morison plans on relying on English teachers to supply their reading lists.  These lists are often heavily based on classic books, which are often much cheaper or even free when you buy them in the e-book edition.

The new media center will also be equipped with new computers to help classes conduct research.  Morison stated “I definitely won’t miss the computers [at the old high school].”  The media center will feature 12 new iMac computers.

The computers will assist classes in conducting research projects, as well as many other things.  The newer computers are faster and more reliable, and don’t ‘get in the way’ while trying to conduct research.

While the new computers are a welcome and needed addition to the media center, Morison stated that “12 computers often isn’t enough for a whole class.”  She is glad that students will be able to bring their own technology next year so they will be able to work on their own, rather than with partners sharing a single computer.

Morison hopes that the new media center will be able to help students take advantage of their technology.  She mentioned that students will have Wi-Fi internet access throughout the school, making information literacy an even more important skill.  Students will need to access even more information on their own, and without the guidence of a teacher.  The new library will help students understand what is and isn’t a reliable source and how to properly credit those that you use.

The THS media center won’t be left in the dust as the world turns digital, and the adoption of e-books and other new technologies is expected to grow in the future.