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

By (author) Breanne A. Kirsch

Publication date:

26 February 2018

Length of book:

120 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781538103104

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.
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 tool’s 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.